The Coming of the New Organization by Peter F. Drucker mentioned several major points of how Information Technology has impacted management and re-structured the corporation process as a whole. Information-based organizations have sufficient computing power to control the labor force without certain levels of management. Information Technology has reduced a variety of positions in the workplace today.
Positions ranging from cashiers, security personnel, typists, and teachers to analysts, supervisors, and managers, and even higher levels of management have been eliminated. As new technology emerges, corporations will constantly review their business practices and processes to enhance their operations as well as cut costs. I agree with Mr. Drucker that positions most affected are, and will be, several layers of management and clerical positions. The function of a Supervisor, Assistant Manager, and Manager is to merely coordinate, review and oversee an area or department of employees. Most levels of management do not have the knowledge of completing day-to-day operations and tasks, but more of an idea of the process.
In my eleven years of employment with Fortis Health, formerly John Alden Life Insurance Company, several positions were eliminated, replaced by some form of Information Technology. Managers and supervisors that produced a variety of productivity reports using an Excel spreadsheet (a form of technology), are replaced by a programmer implementing software and coding a program to automatically read other input/output systems and calculate and measure productivity. Clerical positions such as typing, filing, and phone operators were eliminated, replaced by voice automated software and imaging software.
Information Technology is defined as any system for the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information, via computer system, software and computer equipment. Working in this field requires a variety of knowledge with specific and detailed knowledge. Employees with this knowledge (specialists) are more likely to survive a corporations re-structure due to the implementation of new technology.
The most powerful positions within a company are Information Technology positions. These positions create, monitor, enhance and control the day to day operations of a business. A year ago I have recently transitioned from an Accounts Payable Supervisor to a Project Analyst in an Information Technology department. In my year of being employed in this department, Ive been exposed to a vast amount of Information Technology knowledge. This field has a wide variety of areas to explore and learn.
I agree with Mr. Drucker that Information Technology requires specialized knowledge. In my opinion, Information Technology is the brain and backbone of an organization. Levels of management being eliminated in an information-based organization may cause problems such as promotions or advancements to higher positions. As an information-based organization re-structuring reduces some levels of management positions, incentives must be implemented to give other employees, such as specialists, encouragement to continue employment. Providing rewards and recognition incentives, as Mr.
Drucker mentioned, implementing various programs to encourage employees to pursue educational degrees and/or self-development courses or possibly other career opportunities are good incentives. In the re-organization of our company, Fortis Health, a variety of incentives were implemented to increase employee moral and encourage continuing employment with the company. For instance, Barry University Adult Continuing Education Program (ACE) is offered to employees in pursuit of an Information Technology degree. Its tailored to accommodate the employees.
We live in a new era. In this new era, Information Technology has become the most profound impact on society. As companies become more information-based oriented, keeping pace with todays emerging technology, more and more positions will be eliminated. Having knowledge and being a specialist of this field will definitely place an individual in a position of numerous rewarding benefits now and in the future.
