Time for an Upgrade!
In a world where the fields of technology are rapidly changing, there isn’t very much time to get comfortable with the way things are. From smartphones and smart watches to new innovative ways to run a company, the world around us is changing. Shouldn’t we do the same?
The discussion for this chapter is over new technology and getting that new tech incorporated in your workplace. New tech or new methods, when used correctly, can make company matters much less of a hassle. The only problem with that is that we need humans to cooperate with the new stuff, which doesn’t happen like we would want it to…
As in this case from the two men on the left, they were both very into the high end technology for answering phone calls via chips inserted into their finger and nose. The older man on the right, however, clearly did not change his views on getting the new technology and makes fun of the way the other two men were caught up in the new trend. Those who stick to their guns and keep going with what they know rather than take part in the new trend of technology should not be looked at as insufficient or out of par with the rest of those who use the new innovations, but rather they are more comfortable with using previous methods of operation. But as we all know there will come a time when the outdated methods become less productive than the new, and eventually people will have to give in.
“The over-all point is that new technology will not necessarily replace old technology, but it will date it. By definition. Eventually, it will replace it. But it’s like people who had black-and-white TVs when color came out. They eventually decided whether or not the new technology was worth the investment.” – Steve Jobs
But how do we decide whether or not to make that investment?
According to Small Business Article: How to Introduce New Technology, when deciding to introduce a new technology into an organization you must:
1. Investigate – Before introducing new tech a company must figure out what exactly they are getting the new tech for. What problems are they addressing and what is the solution.
2. Plan – During this phase employees gain acceptance for the details of the new technology. This is an important factor in achieving employee acceptance. This emphasizes on minimizing disruption to their work and modifying existing procedures and work practices.
3. Implement – Implementation often determines whether an initiative is successful. When implementing the new technology you want to include the employees whenever possible. This helps them understand how it operates and help them to keep it running and operating at maximum efficiency.
4. Evaluate – There may be problems with the way the technology works, or the way certain problems are perceived. Evaluations identify both types of problems. You can correct real problems with the collaborative procedure used for the initial introduction of the technology, and you can correct perceived problems with explanations to remove the false perceptions. Evaluating the technology can help the company identify if that specific tech fits the criteria, and help remove or solve the problem.
To close this post, here are some funny images involving tech change from Google:
