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Introduction
There have been numerous attempts recently to evaluate the efficiency of the multiple digital tools that are widely used in offices. Deepening individualism and changing approaches to work-life balance increase the demand for sophisticated digital tools that help to work from home (Cho and Lee, 2022, p. 2). While the overall efficiency of specific platforms and remote cooperation has proven to be highly beneficial for a companys productivity, it has become clear that employees sometimes lose the motivation and the skills to perform their activities in a due manner.
Therefore, a dedicated analysis is needed that takes into consideration all the numerous aspects that have both positive and adverse effects on workers in a highly digitalized workplace.
Thesis Statement
The increasing use of multiple digital tools is inevitable, which should be considered a positive phenomenon, as it motivates workers to acquire new sophisticated skills and develop creativity. Moreover, it encourages various types of cooperation and efficient information exchange.
Digital Tools and Modern Value Creation
There are numerous spheres where the use of specific digital tools has become essential. Most of the workers in those industries who used to rely on paper documents, pens, and pencils, currently perform all their duties solely on a laptop. Thus, the phenomenon of digitalization significantly improves the overall production process. At the same time, numerous economists point to the fact that the relative share of workers input in value creation has decreased substantially in recent years.
Business owners and top managers invest in a wide range of sophisticated software and machines while maintaining the high-income levels of the employees. Office workers, meanwhile, have to do less due to the automation process. Sometimes, numerous office workers in cubicles are responsible only for several tasks that cannot be computerized. Therefore, the situation can lead to misunderstandings and even conflicts between employers and employees, as the former does not approve of the numerous incentives proposed by the latter.
Unionized workers, for instance, no longer represent a significant force that can demand more rights. Although achieving specific tactical results, their actions, in most cases, accelerate the digitalization and automation processes, which allows information technology giants to accumulate even more power over the industry. Numerous scholars have proposed their approaches to addressing the issue. The idea of taxing robots and machines has become popular among economists and the public. Moreover, policymakers consider numerous options that imply reducing taxes on labor while increasing revenue taxes. Although the above-mentioned initiatives cannot address all the multiple problems related to the phenomenon, it has become vivid that millions of unskilled workers worldwide feel vulnerable due to the rapidly increasing automation rates.
At the same time, numerous people claim that the automation process diminishes employers expectations concerning employees performance. Given the remarkable volume of work that is currently performed by software and machines, the input of an individual can be considered negligible. Although this may be true in a relatively small number of cases in certain industries, the general trend points to the essential role of other factors.
Currently, it is impractical to distinguish between the input of a machine/software and the person that operates them. Otherwise, the logic can be applied to significantly less sophisticated tools, such as hammers and shovels. The technological process has accelerated dramatically in recent decades, which has allowed for the mass production of ingenious solutions. The software and the automated machinery utilized by most modern companies should be perceived as the same tools that people have been using for millennia. The increased productivity of individuals operating them should not be undermined by such arguments. The chances that the numerous technologies widely used in various industries can suddenly become unavailable are extremely low.
The growing demand for political initiatives concerning the diminished power of employees should be met by the introduction of sophisticated evidence-based and technology-based solutions. Activists, policymakers, and lobbyists who seek to improve the working conditions of millions should not become new Luddites. Their main arguments should center around the notion of increased individual productivity. The value generated by a person utilizing various digital tools should not be undermined. Haddud and McAllen (2018, p. 2) state that the use of digital tools encourages innovation and creativity. Therefore, it is essential to emphasize that digital tools are primarily tools, not separate value-generating actors.
Moreover, despite the sophisticated nature of numerous machines, gadgets, and computer applications, few can operate in a predominantly autonomous way. Therefore, people are always a significant part of the process, and statistics should not deprive them of their role in value creation. Various types of machinery and control systems cannot make a decision that takes into consideration a wide range of factors. Therefore, agricultural machines and many other types of machinery that may seem entirely automated continue to require the constant presence of a person who can make the most crucial decisions, primarily in case of an emergency.
Changes in Workers Productivity
There are various approaches to overcome the rapidly decreasing number of jobs. Although it has become challenging to find a proper entry-level position, it is essential to realize that the volume of expertise that is required to perform duties efficiently has increased dramatically. In many cases, recent graduates have to demonstrate much more than a diploma and theoretical knowledge. Multiple companies that are ready to pay high salaries expect that applicants already have numerous competencies developed during various training programs and internships at other companies. Thus, the attitude toward education has changed substantially. In order to have a high-paying job in the future, employees are expected to spend several years after graduation acquiring various experiences wherever possible. At the same time, many people claim that the use of information technologies substitutes the need for labor. Although this may be true, the sophisticated nature of modern digital tools implies maintenance processes and software updates that can be performed only by humans. Therefore, the rapid evolution and the increase in the scale of digital tools applications leads to the replacement of low-wage, unskilled labor jobs with creative and engaging positions.
Contrary to the idea that the number of available jobs is limited, the demand for high-skilled information technology workers and engineers is extremely high in the modern world, which is vivid from the number of job offers and salaries. The major problem is the current shortage of people who have the necessary competencies. The current economic system can provide jobs with decent pay to everyone with the required level of education. At the same time, many people claim that developing the necessary skills is a complex and time-consuming undertaking. Although this may be true, the number and the quality of educational opportunities have been substantially enhanced recently. Therefore, modern workers should realize that one education will not be enough to make their living throughout their entire life and that working to improve productivity is essential.
Information and Productivity
The software that is currently used in a wide range of industries constantly changes due to sophisticated updates introducing new features. Therefore, office workers and factory workers are expected to acquire new knowledge independently. At the same time, many people state that companies cannot provide employees with numerous educational opportunities. Although this may be true, emerging evidence suggests that the ability to learn, which includes finding the most crucial information and rapidly developing the ability to utilize it, has become one of the most valuable characteristics of a high-performing employee.
Moreover, the evolution of gadgets and online platforms ensures that the self-education process does not require special knowledge. People worldwide learn coding and foreign languages by watching free videos online. Therefore, modern employees should realize that they are generally expected to devote some of their work time to developing new competencies, which will be highly valued by the employer. The use of sophisticated digital tools initiates a beneficial cycle that implies constant self-education. Therefore, the use of new technologies encourages millions of employees to focus on increasing their products independently, prior to any potential notice from the employer.
One of the most significant benefits that the application of a wide range of digital tools provides is the chance to enhance the volume and the quality of communication and cooperation within the company. Numerous platforms allow for the rapid exchange of information between entirely different departments. Therefore, it has become essential to encourage workers to share all the necessary information with colleagues. At the same time, many people claim that the phenomenon leads to safety concerns and multiple time-consuming procedures and reports.
Although this may be true, the complexity of modern companies implies rapid access to various types of information by employees from different departments. Prendes-Espinosa, Gutiérrez-Porlán, and García-Tudela (2021, p. 7) point to the increased importance of the learning process by focusing on digital tools for virtual cooperation. Moreover, confirming and approving necessary actions or transactions significantly increases the sustainability of the entire business. In case of any future legal issues, it has become convenient to access the whole documented procedure.
Top managers and business owners do not always have the expertise necessary to explore all the possibilities that the use of a particular digital tool creates. Therefore, trust and encouragement should underpin their attitude toward the workers that utilize such software or machinery. Chan, Hooi, and Ngui (2021, p. 2) state that the use of information technologies by multiple employees leads to innovative culture-employee engagement. Millennial employees have proven to be highly motivated individuals when they are provided with challenging tasks and are granted a certain degree of freedom concerning the applicable strategies.
Telework and Productivity
The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially altered the way millions of workers perform their daily duties. Numerous lockdowns have accelerated the development of sophisticated digital workplace solutions. Kane et al. (2021, p. 12) claim that hybrid work can become the most efficient option after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, many people claim that it has become difficult for many employees to maintain their productivity levels due to numerous factors deterring their attention from crucial tasks.
Although this may be true, emerging evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic and all the strict restrictions initiated by the government have led to increased self-discipline. Modern workers that used to rely on guidance from senior colleagues had to develop numerous skills necessary for autonomous work. Micic et al. (2022, p. 3) state that the digital workplace is an umbrella term for a wide range of currently available options. Meske and Junglas (2021, p. 2) underline that the digital workplace transformation has to be implemented gradually in order to ensure employees well-being. Therefore, the influence that the recent pandemic had on the implementation of multiple digital workplace solutions should be considered controversial, with entirely different trends creating new opportunities for high performers while inevitably causing some inconvenience.
Cooperation and Productivity
There have been numerous attempts recently to analyze the cooperation that is encouraged by the introduction of digital platforms. Currently, all workers are expected to explore all the multiple opportunities that new means provide. Given that a large part of all ingenious digital tools implies interaction with numerous other departments, it is vivid that mutual understanding has become instrumental for the efficient functioning of any company that considers introducing automation tools.
Therefore, all employees have to acquire a certain level of experience concerning the numerous activities that underpin a companys functioning. Attaran, M., Attaran, S., and Kirkland (2019, p. 4) claim that employees can independently discover new applications for the newly acquired digital tool skills. People working in entirely different departments and performing various duties currently have a sophisticated understanding of activities performed by their colleagues. Ala-Laurinaho, Tuomivaara, and Perttula (2018, p. 9) state that renewed work processes imply collective understanding. Therefore, modern companies that feature a high level of automation and digital tool use experience significantly less harmful effects associated with people leaving the company.
The application of strategies that rely on the frequent use of software and sophisticated automated machinery helps instill a holistic approach to the companys activities and values in employees. Klassen (2019, p. 6) argues that various digital tools are often introduced to centralize knowledge management. The ability of any member of a team to share information and provide support for a colleague inevitably leads to an extensive exchange of experience, significantly increasing initials productivity and the overall efficiency of the companys functioning.
At the same time, many people claim that the traditional model, where separate teams are assigned a set of unique tasks and are given exclusive access to certain types of information, allows for more stable functioning of a company. Although this may be partially true, most industries in the modern economy imply a significantly more comprehensive understanding of logistics and communication. Moreover, the introduction of numerous new digital tools and platforms reflects the broader trend that is underpinned by the fundamental role of innovation in the global economy.
Currently, stability and reliance on conservative strategies prevail in a relatively small number of industries. At the same time, in most other cases, the rapid introduction and integration of new technologies determine not the companys success but its existence. Recent decades have proven that the globalization process and the rapidly growing power of international corporations do not leave companies any room for maneuver concerning the application of new technologies that can increase workers productivity.
Essential Technologies
The rapidly accelerating technological process implies that the use of digital tools in a wide range of industries is no longer optional. Every company relies on office workers that can perform their duties efficiently only while utilizing sophisticated software. For instance, Key, Czaplewski, and Ferguson (2019, p. 132) claim that digital marketing skills are required in a wide range of industries. Kenney and Zysman (2018, p. 10) pinpoint the introduction of various sophisticated technologies relies on venture capital. Therefore, every large and medium-sized company currently relies on professionals that work primarily via digital platforms. For instance, Yildirim, McCann, and Zimmerman (2020, p. 5) state that the use of 3D printers can substantially alter various industries. The increased productivity associated with multiple information technologies becomes vivid when analyzing the role of digital tools in such spheres as finance and marketing.
At the same time, numerous people claim that workers involved in such activities outsource some of their activities to various financial institutions and specialized agencies. Although this may be partially true, emerging evidence suggests that numerous activities associated with money transfers, logistics, or targeting customers have become dependent on workers creativity. While several decades ago, the ability of a person to operate a data machine was already considered a substantial advantage. Modern employees are expected to show excellent command of various complex computer applications multiplied by an ability to envision the most efficient patterns of their utilization.
Therefore, even the type of workers that was considered to be highly dependent on strict guidelines and technical knowledge is currently expected to show the ability to apply the universally implemented software and platforms in a way that creates a competitive edge. Consequently, the introduction of digital tools in a large number of spheres has led to a dramatic increase in productivity levels.
Conclusion
The wide application of various types of digital tools remains a highly controversial phenomenon. The volume of information analyzed with the help of complex software has increased dramatically in recent years. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the overall efficiency of various information technologies and the impact they have on humans. While the productivity of individuals has been substantially enhanced through the introduction of different digital tools, the conservative approach that considers solely actions performed by people without software prevails in several industries. The phenomenon undermines the evaluation of value creation at different stages of the production process, as it is impossible to separate the value created by a person with the help of modern technologies.
Moreover, numerous people continue to raise concerns about the influence that the frequent use of digital tools has on peoples cognitive abilities. Emerging evidence suggests that the complex nature of various technological solutions widely used in the modern economy encourages the development of various creative skills in workers. Oberländer, Beinicke, and Bipp (2020, p. 6) argue that the development of digital competencies has become instrumental in a companys long-term sustainable growth. Although employees may lose some skills that are performed without computers, the chances of ever returning to traditional tools remain extremely low. Therefore, the application of various types of digital technologies has proven to be instrumental in the enhancement of the productivity of individual workers and the economy in general.
References
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