The innovative quality of the advancing technology associated with telecommunication lies in the liberation of the individual from remaining in one physical location.
The global office has arrived for many workers and has bought with it whole different set of problems for users.
There is a real need to adjust managerial and workplace culture to take account of the individuals need for his or her privacy.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Pressures of the Global Office
Ergonomics
The study of the relationship between people and their working environment, including machinery, computer systems, etc.
Health & safety in the use of computer systems
The health and safety factors with the use of computer systems and communication equipment seem to multiply day by day. According to one set of recent research the risk of developing a brain tumor through using mobile telephones can be reduced by using hands-free accessories.
Telecommunication Technology
Organisation now have to make use of Telecommunications to survive. at one time only big corporations were multinational, but now companies can become great and global at the same time thanks to the new channels of communication and e-commerce.
Project Management Technology
Multiple Projects are usually being planned or actually happening at the same time in any organisation. Project management software allows staff to track and to plan these numerous projects. it works by breaking down a complicated project into subtasks. each with its own completion date and the required resources.
Office Scheduling Technology
Office Scheduling Technology is the collective term for software packages which co-ordinate individual and group activities and appointments: in effect these are electronic calenders and diaries.
Purchasing & stock control packages
Stock control systems automatically adjust stock levels and take corrective action when the re-order level is reached.
Barcodes are used extensively in retail outlets at the point of sale and for a range of stock control applications.
where the ratailer is selling a service rather than goods, electronic booking and reservation systems work on a similar principle of instantly updating records thus ensuring availability is current and accurate.
Order Processing and Invoicing Packages
When an order is received, the systems will check if the customers has an existing account. The stock file will be checked to see if the goods are in stock. if they are the invoice and despatch note are created and issued along with the goods.
Desktop Publishing (DTP)
Desktop publishing packages are more sophisticated forms word processors. text, image, graphs, tables & charts can be imported from other software packages and the pages made up on screen into very professional reports, notices or publicity material of a quality similar to that found in books and magazines.
Word Processing Packages
Word Processing systems are the most common application of information technology to office work. This is because document production is one of the main functions of business. These software packages have improved dramatically the productivity of office workers, both cletrical and managerial, by automating the creation, editing and printing of letters and documents.
Spreadsheet Packages
Computer Spreadsheet are computerised versions of an accountants financial modeling tools; columnar pad,pencil & calculator. A Spreadsheet is laid out like graph paper in a grid of rows & columns. The squares, or cells can be filled with numbers, formulate or labels. The great advantages of computerised Spreadsheets is that they allow modelling and are ideal for forecasting and budgeting. 


Databases of information
Internal information can take many froms. it may be verbal, written or electronic, and original from current or historical records.
A collection of data organised so that the information can be accessed and utilised by many different applications.
The benefits are;
- the need to store duplicates information is eliminated;
- avoids data redundancy;
- common data exists for users to share;
- data is independent of the programs;
- consistent use of data;
- effective control and management of the use of an organisations data.
Application Software
Application software is a category of software which handles the processing for a particulars task.
Business Technology revolution
- Telephones & telex.
- Typewriters.
- Copiers.
- Adding machines & later.
- Computers.
- document management;
- scheduling;
- data management;
- project management.
Information Within Business
Business communication is generally a matter of information handling and processing. Advances in the use of computer and telecommunications technology have had a impact on the way in which information in collected,
The major benefits of gathering and presenting information in this way are:-
- The speed and efficiency at which it can be undertaken;
- The ability to incorporate the most up to date information;
- The professional image that it creates.
Developing Teams- Quality Circles
A leader joins in a group discussion with a list of issues from which solutions-actions, a timescale and actions on individuals are the result.
Developing Teams- Brainstorming
Groups come together to throw ideas into the arena on any particulars issue or topic. It does not matter whether these ideas are workable or completely bizarre, they are all given consideration.
Organisation Communication
People with shared aims coming together to achieve those aims. This involves division of labour, management of resources and external, as well as internel, communication.
Abuse of Communication
This takes place in the form of propaganda- for example, in wartime, in polotics, it also happens when people are unfairly in their use of details from a particular set of information, so that they can sensationlise by emphasising certain parts of the information.
