Impact of Technology on communication- MC

The development of technology has considerably improved our lifestyle. It has made
its impact felt on each and every aspect of life, including communication techniques.
The development of communication has seen huge progress; from symbols to the
latest swanky mobiles! Each century has seen a new addition to the ever-growing list
of means of communication. The invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham
Bell in the year 1875 was the first technological invention that impacted
communication in humans to a massive extent. Other subsequent inventions like that
of the Internet, cell phone, etc., further eased and changed the world of
communication.
Effects of Technology on Communication
Everything has a positive and negative impact, and the impact of technology on the
communication process also comes as a mixed bag. In this article, we will discuss the
impact of popular technological elements like emails, telephones, cell phones, etc.
Mobiles and the Internet are literally basic necessities these days. A majority of us
would feel something missing in life, if there were no mobiles or Internet (Agree?).

Take the daily routine of a person in this tech-savvy world. The day begins with a
"good morning message" on a mobile app and ends with a "goodnight" on the same
app. The social networking apps/sites are, like a virtual world! The incessant use of
mobiles and the Internet for communication, use modes like online chats, emails,
teleconferencing, video conferencing, networking sites, etc., among other tools.
Mobiles, emails, and social networking sites are the most popular means of
communication among the current generation.
Technology has transformed the once big and far world into a tiny global village.
Thanks to technology, we now have the power to communicate with anybody
anywhere in the world. The points below summarize these benefits.
No Communication Barriers
With technology, communication is easy; even in cases when you want to convey
something urgently to someone, mobiles and emails come in handy. Technology has
made it easy to keep in touch with old contacts, and has strengthened relationships.
Finding a date was never so easy, thanks to the dating and chatting websites!
Technology is behind the success of long-distance relationships. Video chats and
social networking sites have played a big role in keeping people in touch.
Better Development Solutions
Technology has brought the world closer and promoted exchange of thoughts to find
better solutions to any problem. Advancements in the modes of communication have
promoted faster decision-making, and led to the development and progress of the
world. Most businesses depend on technology for communication. For example,
video-conferencing has made it possible to give the best education to students via
expert faculty on the web.
The most prominent negative effect of technology - the charm of the good old world
is missing. The letters, and lengthy face-to-face conversations have gone away, and
have been replaced by texting or chatting.
Negative Impact of Technology on Interpersonal Communication
The current generation lacks essential interpersonal skills (the ability to express the
ideas and thoughts to others, face-to-face). A major reason for this is the increased
frequency of communication through texting and chatting on websites. This has an
effect on nonverbal communication as well. Technological means have also affected
nonverbal communication. Lack of face-to-face interaction has reduced the nonverbal
grasping power of individuals.
Technology Weakens Family Relations
Many teenagers are always hooked to the social networking sites. They are closer to
online friends, but the gap between parents and kids has increased considerably.
Communication is lacking, as parents are not techno-savvy to the communication
styles of the kids, increasing the generation gap. Consider socializing among people.
Life has changed a lot; very few social meetings and get-togethers are held these days.
People are more bothered about their online life, than their real social life.
Unlawful Use and Addiction to Technology
Modern communication technology has led to many problems. People have become
addicted to the Internet and cell phones, and this has led to many anxiety disorders.
People addicted to the Internet feel lonely and isolated. Many people abuse social
networking sites and communicate with unsuspecting victims pretending to be
someone else. This tendency has done more harm than good.
As you can see technological communication is a double-edged sword. It all depends
on how we use these means; use the technological means of communication for sane
purposes, and don't abuse them for malicious motives.

Once upon a time, business communications consisted of formal business letters and a conversation
in the boss's office. Today's technological advances have moved communications into a new realm,
where messages are delivered almost instantly, tasks are assigned and managed by computer
programs and people are even removed from the communications equation. And while most
advances have improved workflow and efficiency, some concerns about the quality of business
relationships have surfaced.

Continued Evolution of Email

Perhaps one of the most obvious developments in business communications has been that of direct
correspondence through email. Although it's existed for almost 50 years, email has experienced
continual change. It's gone from being simply a method of sending a message to becoming a means
of workflow management. Within an email system users can:
 flag priority messages and set tasks for follow-up
 program alerts for when messages from VIP senders arrive
 send automated responses when out of the office and unable to personally respond
Project Management Systems and Scheduling

Another use of technology in business is the implementation of project management systems for

collaboration between employees. Workers no longer need to be in the same building or sit in a
lengthy meeting to share their ideas. Whether they're at the corporate headquarters or working from
home, individuals can create task lists, assign work, upload content, set appointments and track
progress all in one online application.

Automated Voice Systems Provide Service

Automated voice response systems are another way to provide customer service while allowing
employees to stay focused on other tasks. Instead of a "live person," the automated system handles
the call and either directs the customer to the appropriate individual or retrieves data and
communicates the basic information requested by the caller. Similarly computer "bots" handle online
requests for information through live chats. Customers feel like they are being served by a live
representative, but often the site is served by a computer programmed with basic responses to
routine questions.

Artificial Intelligence Engages in Marketing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are being used to predict and influence future sales based on
consumer preferences. Knowledge of customer preferences in real time can assist marketing
departments in determining where to spend their money by tracking trends more closely and
adapting promotional and sales efforts. The streaming entertainment industry, for example, suggests
additional programming based on shows already being watched. "Because you watched this ... you
might enjoy this."
Easy Collaboration with Remote Workers

The gig or freelance industry has also grown dramatically because of technological advancements

that allow talented workers to be hired and perform remotely for an organization. Needs can be
posted online and workers hired, sometimes within hours. Freelancers can collaborate with
managers and employees through project management platforms, without any one-on-one
interaction. The cost savings by using contractors adds up as companies save time and effort by not
hiring and managing long-term employees.

The Downside of Technology in Communications

Despite the savings to companies, there are some negative effects to this surge in technological
integration into business communications. Some studies have shown a decrease in productivity over
the long term due to an "always connected" lifestyle fueled by easy access to information. Many
employees may never actually take a break from the work routine because they are always checking
email or status updates on a project through a mobile app, resulting in high levels of stress and
increased illness. Additionally, many workers are lacking in proper sleep, less connected with people
outside the office and lacking the ability to relate to each other in face-to-face interactions.
Top 3 Impacts of Technology on Business
Communication
By Big Think Edge|November 16th, 2017
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There’s no denying that technology has had an enormous impact on business communication—as well as
almost every other aspect of business. The ability to instantly communicate with almost anyone from
almost anywhere around the globe has changed the way that professionals communicate and
collaborate—and many young professionals can’t even imagine a world where they don’t have access to
their mobile phone with Facebook, Twitter, messaging and numerous other communication apps.

All while recognizing both the good and the bad, here are some of the biggest impacts technology has
had on business communication —and the people that rely on it.

1) Near-Constant Access to
Key Staff Members
In a post featured on Big Think, John Beeson, the Principal of management coaching firm Beeson
Consulting, made the rather critical observation “that modern-day telecommunications, the hair-trigger
requirements of financial markets, and the pace of global organizations create 24 x 7 work lives for most
executives.”

Ultimately being in a position of significant authority means needing to be accessible at virtually all
times—and technology makes it easier than ever to reach out (and perhaps even bug him or her). Even
when on vacation, executives are often still accessible and expected to reply to emergencies from the
workplace.

Before the advent of the cell phone, reaching out to an exec who was on break involved a process: you
had to know where the exec was staying, call his or her hotel/golf club/etc., and get them to play relay. If
the exec was incommunicado, then there was no real solution. Now, with the exec’s personal cell phone
number at disposal, business teams can get in touch mere seconds.

This is great for getting guidance during unexpected emergencies, but it can also put a serious damper
on the ability of senior management to take breaks, relax, and recharge themselves so they can be more
effective when they’re on the job.

As Beeson notes in the article:

“Under continued stress an executive loses his or her perspective on issues and the
ability to look at problems creatively. Molehills become mountains. Conflict with
colleagues becomes personal. The ‘flat spots’ of our personality – for example,
arrogance inflexibility, aversion to risk or a tendency toward negativity – become
evident. And most of us revert to tried and true solutions – the enemy of
breakthrough strategies and new innovations.”
Without the ability to disconnect and relax, high-level executives may suffer from prolonged stress that
limits their ability to adapt, innovate and effectively lead their teams.

However, this stress from constant workplace communication can also be applied to any key employee.
For example, what would happen if the only employee in a manufacturing unit who knew how to program
a specific assembly robot were to go out of touch for days on end? The first time a problem occurred, all
production relying on that robot would grind to a halt. So, the employee is forced to stay in touch, even
when on vacation.

So, what’s the solution to this challenge? Beeson urges executives “to find those activities that allow you
to relax—even if only for 15 minutes a day.” Rather than taking extended vacations, execs are
encouraged to find some little things that they can squeeze into their days. However, this may not be
enough R&R to let everyone alleviate their stress and fatigue.

Instead, a better solution may be to make organizational changes that give execs and employees some
freedom from worrying about work tasks when they’re on break. One example of a change you could
make can be found in a French labor law highlighted in a Big Think article: “le droit de la déconnexion—
the right to disconnect from work emails during non-work hours.”

By restricting work-related communications during non-work hours to only emergency situations, workers
are given a degree of autonomy from their workplace so they can focus on recuperation and show up for
work fresh-faced. This can help make workers more productive and reduce burnout.

2) Social Media and

Communication Tools
Increase Distractions at
Work
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn… there are innumerable social media networks for employees to get lost in.
Even dedicated business communication tools, like Slack, can become sources of distraction at work as
employees use private channels to share funny memes or non-work news articles with one another.

These distractions can take an employee’s attention off of their work for short periods of time, interrupting
the flow of their daily activities. And, some distractions made available by modern technology can actively
worsen an employee’s mood to the point that it affects the quality and consistency of their work.

One Big Think article on how negative news stories can impact an employee’s productivity highlighted
research by Shawn Achor and Michelle Gielan for the Harvard Business Review. According to Achor and
Gielan:

“Negative news influences how we approach our work and the challenges we
encounter at the office because it shows us a picture of life in which our behavior
does not matter… In psychology, believing our behavior is irrelevant in the face of
challenges is called ‘learned helplessness,’ which has been connected with low
performance and higher likelihood of depression.”
With the prevalence of negative news distributed on major news sites to social media platforms like
Facebook—events such as natural disasters, threats of war, murders, etc.—it’s easy to see how these
communication channels can become a source of stress and distraction for workers.

So, what can businesses do to keep social media and their business communication apps from becoming
energy-sucking distractions? Surprisingly little. Smartphones and their apps have become an entrenched
part of the modern lifestyle, so much so that simply forbidding their use outright is unlikely to have a
significant impact.

One suggestion highlighted in the Big Think article on productivity is to “begin the day with ‘empowering,
solutions-focused’ news” so that employees are “less likely to get bogged down in the negativity of the
outside world.”

Basically, start each day with some positive reinforcement “good news” that can lift people’s spirits. It
doesn’t have to be a news story, either. You can share internal news, like major accomplishments by one
employee or team or the organization hitting certain milestones. Sharing these stories on the social media
channels and business communication apps used by employees, and encouraging them to share such
stories amongst themselves, you can build up some positivity in the organization.

3) Employees Have More

Access to Information Than
Ever Before
In any organization, there’s always an adjustment period as a new employee learns the ropes. From
picking up specific skills to learning key terms (or even whole new languages) and more, everyone has
something new to learn when they first join a team.

Modern technology has given workers access to more new information than was accessible at any other
point in history. It used to be that, if an employee wanted to learn something new, they would have to do
one of the following:

 Attend a specialized class;

 Find an experienced mentor; or
 Hunt down industry books/guides.

Any one of these options could be time consuming—taking hours, days, or months for the employee to
arrange—and there would be little way to verify the training’s efficacy.

Now, employees can type a search query into Google and have near-instant access to news articles,
Wikipedia pages, how-to videos and online training courses designed to impart specific skills or
knowledge.

In fact, Google’s translation function, though imperfect, can allow employees to understand articles in
foreign languages that would have previously been completely inaccessible to them. With such translation
technology, it’s possible for two teams working on different continents and speaking different languages
to collaborate without having to arrange for the services of a dedicated translation team.
As translation technology continues to improve, such as in the form of Google’s new earbuds that
can translate 40 different languages in real time, the language barrier may soon completely disappear
from the modern workplace.

This could massively streamline international business communication in the very near future.

These are just a few of the effects that modern technology has had on business communication and
employees in today’s workforce. Learn more about how you can improve your organization’s strategies
for shaping and delivering content, strengthening work relationships, and capitalizing on develop
communication technology by checking out Big Think Edge’s Business Communication Course—
featuring lessons from noted experts like Amy Cuddy (Social Psychologist and Associate Professor of the
Harvard Business School)!

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