To what extent does new and changing technology affect comfort levels of employees, specifically analyzing the difference between those suffering through tech disparity and those working from technologically advanced countries; with a specific focus of the Covid-19 pandemic.
References:
Kimble, C. (2010). Building Effective Virtual Teams: How to Overcome the Problems of Trust and Identity in Virtual Teams. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2322429
This article discusses what qualities make a good team, and how to create the best environment in which people can grow and feel safe in the workplace. There is a specific focus on virtual teams, and how they must function in ways that are different to what they may be used to, and there are case studies that are provided to see how these ideas apply to the real world. This will be beneficial to our research topic, because it will provide insight as to how teams work best online, and how we can better work through technological problems, as well as organizational problems that managers face when managing online teams, which relates directly to OB.
Peter Holland & Anne Bardoel (2016) The impact of technology on work in the twenty-first century: exploring the smart and dark side, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27:21, 2579-2581, DOI:
This journal talks about the next wave of technological change and how it has and will impact the workplace. One of the largest issues with technology in the twenty-first century is the impact social media has on the voices of the employees and how it affects other works as well as upper management. While technology can make it faster to talk to one another and to communicate issues, some people do not have this luxury and are struggling to get the technology needed in order to work effectively.
SABIR, S. A. M. I. N. A., LATIF, R. A. S. H. I. D., QAYYUM, U. N. B. R. E. E. N., & ABASS, K. A. M. R. A. N. (2019). FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. Annals of Financial Economics, 14(03). https://doi.org/10.1142/s201049521950012x
This article provides information about how technology leads to an increase in economic growth, and that through economic growth, countries are better able to further their technology. Though, it focuses on how developing countries require stronger institutions to lead to a stronger economy, and that will result in more advanced technology. This relates to our project, because it provides background information about what it means to be a developing country in such a technologically-based world. This will allow us to better analyze and understand what it means to be a developing country making the transition to technology-based work.
Stoica, M. & Florea, L. & Gonsalez, A. (2020). Innovation in Virtual Team Business Education: Ways to Increase Trust and Cohesiveness. http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.wwu.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=82f52856-8ad2-4059-97a9-d57a33f2b971%40pdc-v-sessmgr03&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=148601173&db=bth
This article discusses the importance of trust and cohesiveness in a virtual setting within work and education. There is a focus on how the understanding of different cultures can determine how well a team can work together and be successful. Our research had a focus on how new technologies affect employees’ comfort levels. This article helps this research by discussing how to offer an environment that enables building trust and cohesiveness while working with team members virtually. By understanding how to build trust, the cultural and educational differences can be addressed allowing for a smoother adjustment to an online format with new technologies.
The Internet Is Everywhere, but the Payoff Is Not. (2012). Communications of the ACM, 55(8), 34–35.
While the paper does not talk about Covid-19 it does show how programs that would benefit companies were more often seen in larger cities than in smaller ones. Larger cities are able to take advantage of newer technology and benefiting more from internet use than small cities. There also seems to be a wage gap between larger and smaller cities that could be caused by this technological advantage. Many of these disparities cannot be easily fixed and affect more than just companies. This relates to our project because things such as access to new programs and wages greatly affect employees comfort and provides background on how these disproportionate advantages could be seen since 1995-2000.
Vargo, D., Zhu, L., Benwell, B., & Yan, Z. (2020). Digital technology use During COVID ‐19 pandemic: A rapid review.
Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies,
3(1), 13-24. doi:10.1002/hbe2.242
Through the lens of 4 main research questions, this Journal addresses the way in which various different people used technology during the pandemic, and how the effect that it had on the work they were doing. Through looking at various industries, the authors were able to narrow down the different platforms and technologies used, and then analyze the impacts on the differing industries, from healthcare to students. The Journal then goes into the final question, the effects and impact that the technology had, with the biggest being virus transmission control, and ranging all the way to negative effects such an unmotivated and unfocused student engagement and learning.
Agnes Kaminski
Azailia Rodriguez Ortiz
Maddie Sweeney
Rachel Thummel
Jordyn Weaver
