How Technology Has Affected Organizational Communication. Technology is the practical application of scientific knowledge, such as the use of computers, the internet, and mobile phones mostly in corporate organizations and colleges to improve communications and hence solve problems (Seels and Richey 147). Many companies throughout the world have embraced the current method of communicating and transmitting messages around the globe by combining spoken words and non-verbal clues like body language, facial expressions, and gestures, which has united the entire world into a little village. However, technology has had various effects on these organizations, both good and bad (Venkateshe and Davis 200).
has advanced is among the most significant good aspects is the fact that technology has greatly enhanced e-learning (Venkateshe and Davis 200). This has been successfully achieved by most universities and colleges through elements such as video-conferencing which has improved learning processes across the world, with students being able to communicate with their lecturers at any time. Through such forums, the learners are also able to send messages to their lecturers over any emerging issue throughout their studies thus strengthening relations (Venkateshe and Davis 202).
Technology has highly assisted in finding solutions to problems facing an organization. Through the internet, several ideas and thoughts are brought together by different people from various dimensions concerning a problem hence one is able to identify a solution to a problem from the many suggestions. This can also be done through video chatting and social sites such as Wats App, Instagram and Facebook as well as mobile phone texting thus enhancing nonverbal communication. In addition, the use of mobile phones to communicate to someone has impacted to minimal barriers in the communication process. This explains the importance of urgent communication in case of emergency situations, an aspect which enhances efficiency and time saving (Seels and Richey 152).
In addition to the above, technology has enhanced bottom-up communication in organizations (Markus 131). For subordinate employees who fear to face their seniors, it has proved easier to communicate via e-mail and mobile phone. As such, technology has distinguished the adverse effects of unilateral top-down communication where management could not understand issues affecting their human resource.
From the negative angle, Markus observes that technology has some draw backs on an organization, the major one being reduced interactions (120). Social interaction has largely been affected by the emerging technology in communication as most organizations now opt to deal with even gross concerns through the internet rather than face-to-face meetings and get-together. This has in turn led to reduced social gatherings as most people today value online chats. It should be noted that face-to-face is the best method of communication, allowing for immediate feedback and apprehension of non-verbal cues by the recipient. Finally, technology leads to poor working plan (Markus 120). For instance, an employee’s supervisor can send them messages at any given point in time, including odd hours. Such a scenario means little boundaries between work and family or home. This creates a ‘walking office’ via the mobile phone, leading to adverse impacts such as staff burnout and lack of motivation as Markus (120) points out.
Works Cited
Markus, M. Lynne. “Finding a happy medium: Explaining the negative effects of electronic communication on social life at work.” ACM Transactions on Information Systems (TOIS) 12.2 (1994): 119-149.
Seels, Barbara B., and Rita C. Richey. Instructional technology: The definition and domains of the field . IAP, 2012: 101- 247.
Venkatesh, Viswanath,and Fred D. Davis. “A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: Four longitudinal field studies.” Management science , 46.2 (2000): 186-204.
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