Assignment 2 group research report a conclusion for the effects of technological changes will be provided, as well as suggestions for future research

WORKING IN GLOBAL SOCIETY [BUSM4561] Assignment - Group Research Report Tutor’s name: Nhu Do Thi Huong Team: Members: Pham Hoang Yen - S3845763 Nguyen Thi Hong Hue - S3726219 Nguyen Minh Trung - S3818776 Pham Phuong Linh - S3822054 Suyeon Ji - S3819673 Pham Nguyen Hai Nam - S3880892 Table of Contents I Executive Summary .1 II Introduction .1 III The Study Method 3.1 Research 3.2 Data Collection 3.3 Data analysis 3.4 Interviewee’s Characteristics IV The Findings .3 4.1 Work flexibility & Work-life balance .3 4.2 Health of workers 4.3 Data security (risk) & Work efficiency 4.4 Work stability & Workers’ standard of living .5 4.5 Adaptation to technology V Discussion VI Appendices List of Interviewees 5.2 List of Question .9 Reference list 12 I Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to create a literature review of the theme “Technological Changes”, stressing its impacts on the lives of workers This paper will present a qualitative review based on the data gathered from the interviews of five individuals working in different industries Firstly, the report will examine the method of collecting based on the interview performed Secondly, the analysis will appraise the link between interviewees' responses and the eight concepts: work efficiency, work flexibility, work stability, adaptation to technology, data security and risk, work-life balance, worker's standard of living and health of workers Thirdly, it will provide an in-depth discussion of the effects of technology on change in nature of works, and workers' lives by incorporating journal articles into the analysis A list of question and assumptions will also be given to summarise the impacts of technological changes on each aspect Ultimately, a conclusion for the effects of technological changes will be provided, as well as suggestions for future research II Introduction In today's world, technology has become a fundamental part of almost every business in the world, in which it plays a fundamental role in enhancing business daily operations and contributing to business success The emergence of technology causes alters in the nature of various jobs and workers’ lives This report will inspect the effects of change caused by technology through interviewing six workers who work in different fields: clothing seller, teacher, Grab driver, banker, and IT marketer to explore the scale of the impact regarding distinct industries The analysis will conduct three main assessments including the study method, findings from the interviews, and analytical research and discussion Finally, it will present a conclusion based on the findings, and give advice on limitation areas III The Study Method 3.1 Research In this research, we chose qualitative research to help us develop a deeper understanding of the technical changes in the workplace To be more specific, since we not have a clear assessment of the effects on the changes in technology, we, therefore, employed intensive data collection and analysis methodologies to obtain a broad perspective regarding the common understandings and beliefs about technical changes, and in particular insight into its current impacts of dignity in the modern-day workplace Besides that, secondary data, such as scholarly tools and journals, papers, and analysis firm databases were also used to support the research 3.2 Data Collection Personal interviews were applied as a means of implementing the qualitative research approach as well as effectively gathering information According to QuestionPro, personal interviews can help the researcher in detecting and analysing the interviewee’s body language when asking questions as well as taking notes about it Participants for this research are selected based on several work characteristics and their workplace has gone through a technical change Our team interviewed people based on the same set of questionnaires used in each interview with an average length of about minutes The interviews were conducted with a variety of individuals throughout different positions and organizations between the fourth and fifth of May 2021 Our team has conducted these interviews using several interview methods including face-to-face, phone, and email The roles of the interviewees included Clothing seller, banker, IT worker, Grab driver, teacher, and Marketer However, due to the limited sample size, the result will not accurately reflect the general perception and experience of workers towards technical changes 3.3 Data analysis Our team followed a systemic approach to deliver the questions which encouraged interviewees to consider their own situations and elaborate about both the positive and negative ways they have been affected as well as the potential effect they believe to be in common in the workplace The issues raised were all related to the theme of technical changes in the workplace, and the data was analysed to collect conclusive information about the direct impacts of the changes in technology based on the experiences of individuals in organizations dealing with such changes After completing all the interviews and the responses were compiled, the data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach Thematic analysis is a common and efficient method for analysing qualitative data (Jack Caulfield 2020) This included the examination of data to clearly identify any trends, themes, common ideas, or patterns in interpretations After these key factors have been identified in the data collection, the data can be transferred into reliable information to draw well-informed conclusions 3.4 Interviewee’s Characteristics There were six people who were interviewed in the study, they all have different occupations but had direct involvement in technical changes Six interviewees' professional experiences are examined in this interview Interviewee is a 20-year-old individual who graduated from Business and Technology University and currently working as a clothing seller in Hanoi Technology also affects her current job Interviewee is a 45-year-old individual who completed a degree in Economics and Finance and currently working in a bank as a customer service officer He has gone through technical changes since he started working in the bank Interviewee is a 23-year-old individual who graduated from Hanoi University of Science and Technology and currently working as an IT worker He is now facing changes in technology Interviewee is a 42 years old individual who graduated from NEU and currently working as an Economic lecturer at Thang Long University Recently, there have been several changes in technology that affected her way of teaching Interviewee is a 30-year-old individual who graduated high school and currently working as a Grab driver worker in Hanoi His current job appeared in the changes of technology Interviewee is a 42 years old individual who is a Marketer, she is working in the marketing department of Dr Shebah, a Korean cosmetic company Her job depends mostly on technology IV The Findings 4.1 Work flexibility & Work-life balance Based on the data collected from the interviews, we identify a number of trends caused by the implementation of technology in the workplace Regarding workplace flexibility, the impacts of technology are controversial, in which, five out of six interviewees agreed that technology influence positively by allowing working remotely, and telecommunication, however, many of them complained about not having flexible working hours According to Ms Phuong Nguyen, a teacher stated: “on special occasions that we are unable to attend physical class, it is flexible to move to online classes” The development of such telecommunication platforms like Zoom and Google meetings enable her to work and communicate remotely Similarly, Mr Hai Tran, a banker indicated that there is “no need of having face to face communication with customers” that he can now consultation online In relation to working hours, Ms Trang Nguyen, a clothing seller demonstrated that she “has to work extra hours” due to the rising workload from online sales Similarly, Mr Thien Pham, a marketer stated that he “has to spend extra time at home to practice new technology” Conversely, Mr Manh Tran revealed that working as a Grab driver gives him the right to “decide my own working hours”, instead of working fixed hours compared to other jobs According to participants’ responses, it is recognizable that the application of technology in the workplace enhances work practice flexibility, yet it does not satisfy the demand of most workers for having flexible time 4.2 Health of workers All of the six interviewees indicated receiving negative impacts on their health as a consequence of using technology in daily work In particular, all interviewees demonstrated to have issue with worsen eyesight, headache, and dizziness after long uses of computer 4.3 Data security (risk) & Work efficiency By technological changes, every respondent stated that they have received positive assists in terms of protecting data and conducting their tasks; easier, faster, and less mistakes In particular, teachers can reduce time to prepare their classes and cut down time to write notes by hand on the board during classes through using PowerPoint, according to Ms Phuong Nguyen In the marketing department, Ms Choi, Korean cosmetic marketer, stated they can identify their customers’ insights and behaviours easier and faster than the past by applying big data Moreover, both Ms Trang Nguyen and Mr Hai Tran responded that they become more easier to manage their duties by using computers According to Mr Manh Tran, he can easily capture more customers compared with before using the mobile app However, the respondents also added that employees can be distracted by utilizing digital devices like smartphones for personal purposes during their working time To enhance work productivity, some respondents showed positiveness about workplace monitoring, and the others claimed that employees may feel uncomfortable and unhappy about being observed and it can lead to lower productivity conversely 4.4 Work stability & Workers’ standard of living Most interviewees except Mr Hai Tran showed their feelings that they are not threatened by artificial intelligence, even though new technologies are consistently developing However, all interviewees claimed it is absolutely right that getting a job or receiving promotion is harder than before One of the respondents, Ms Phuong Nguyen claimed we might confront loss in our monthly income or jobs if we cannot utilize technical skills well In addition, as jobs have been replaced by AI and the working environment has been managed by programs, not humans, we become harder to keep our positions in companies according to Ms Choi To enhance or maintain their jobs and income, they said we need to have ardour and open minds about adapting to changing technologies, regardless of professions 4.5 Adaptation to technology The need for technical changes has risen in recent years because of globalization and new job standards Many alternative platforms are provided for individuals to keep updated and upgrade their technical knowledge and skills as defined by all interviewees Apart from individuals looking for external platforms to learn new and relevant technical skills, many companies provide training as well This is the reason why our interviews were conducted with workers who are currently practicing and working in the changes of technology and they are all motivated to adapt technology in their workplace Besides that, these workers are all willing to try new things and learn for self-satisfaction or to future-proof their skills and knowledge One of the interviewees, Mr Hai, who works as a service customer officer in a local bank, stated that his company does provide training for all the employees to adapt to new technology As a result, it can be seen that the industry being prepared in facing the technology changes, ensures that sufficient training is provided for staff V Discussion The rapid technological changes had brought a major impact on how contemporary businesses operate Regardless of the form of technology, its introduction into the workplace has unquestionably altered the nature of work (Haddad 2002) It enables organizations to survive and gain competitive advantages in contemporary business However, as technical advancements accelerate, so does the demand for employees' adaptation Thus, technology is becoming a crucial factor in influencing employees’ work-life balance (Nam 2013) Companies are recognizing this matter and supplying staff with training workshops as well as allowing them to arrange job flexibility according to their needs Even while some certain jobs are rendered obsolete as a result of new technologies, new jobs are still generated with new possible income As machines are supposed to automate labourintensive works, jobs for data miners, data analysts, and data managers will be generated (West 2015) From McKinney's Paris office study in 2011, although the internet had killed 500,000 jobs in France within the past 15 years, it had also generated 1.2 million more, meaning 2.4 new jobs created for every job lost (Manyika 2017) According to our Grab interviewee, Mr Manh Tran said that technology has changed the traditional drivers to modern and effective ones by using mobile apps With the new technology, more jobs and potential income are generated and attract thousands of new drivers in this market For instance, Grab currently dominates the ride-hailing space with about 190,000 drivers and 75% of the market share (Le 2020) Advances in communication technologies have enabled each organizational department to easily communicate through the utilization of smartphones, email, and video conference applications for timesaving and work efficiency Thanks to these new technological inventions, organizations can build and use effective virtual teams rather than traditional teamwork in the workplace As company colleagues from various continents can form without having physical meetings, time and travel expenses can be saved Thus, they can meet electronically and disband at the organization's request (Pilis & Furumo 2007) Additionally, as most of our interviewees highlighted their need for work flexibility, it emphasizes that working virtually is beneficial to improve employees’ productivity, higher job satisfaction, and brings healthier their work-life balance (Peoples 2021) As a result of recent technical advancements, data has become a deluge in current business (Zhang, 2018) Big data is frequently unstructured, necessitating real-time analysis Big data can explicitly endanger user privacy and data protection if it is not well secured for user data in the course of use (Hawkins et al 2000) Thus, there is a rising demand for data analyst jobs so organizations can follow the current trends With the advancement of technologies, data analysis and security have become easier to manage than before For example, Cloud computing can be used as the storage layer for big data systems to satisfy those infrastructure needs including cost-effectiveness, elasticity, and the ability to scale up and down ( Hawkins et al 2000) The majority of our interviewees agree that it is a lot easier to monitor data using technologies, Ms, Trang Nguyen, a clothing seller, stated that replacing handwriting invoices with the invoice on the computer had made her job a lot more convenient and time-saving In short, our findings back up previous research that shows how advanced technologies make data processing simpler Employers can easily track their workers' actions at work thanks to modern technology In addition to video cameras and telephone tapping devices, computers are also used to monitor transaction entries, intercept electronic mail (e-mail), and record keystrokes and customer service operations (Oz et al, 1999) Thus, organizations can cut down the cost of hiring security personnel and excessive managers Moreover, employers argue that electronic surveillance ensures efficient use of time, prompt and courteous customer service, and the avoidance of illegal activity (Oz et al, 1999) Chalykoff and Kochan concluded their research that while the detrimental consequences of monitoring are inherent for some workers, they can be mitigated for others by paying attention to feedback and performance assessment processes (Chalykoff & Kochan, 1989) The majority of our interviewees agree that workplace monitoring is necessary because it could increase productivity with feedback from their managers In general, our findings align with the research of Chalykoff and Kochan that employees may not necessarily view electronic monitoring negatively Along with the positive impact, there are drawbacks to technological advancement For example, because of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), some people can work more during their time due to technical convenience and are not hesitant to handle affairs from the office, while others prefer a strict distinction between their private and public lives and see such infiltration as harmful to their personal lives (Nam 2013) Some of our interviewees stated that they prefer fixed working hours rather than the requirement to work in their time In addition, there is a growing need for a deeper understanding of information, technology, and work Turbulent shifts in the modern workplace put a lot of pressure on information workers to keep learning and adapting to the changing technology in which they work (Cairns and Malloch, 2011, Littlejohn et al., 2012) A majority of our interviewees mentioned that they were pressured to adapt to technology and required to learn information technology (IT) as a basic skill Because of the pressure, they have to learn technical knowledge and skills in their personal time There are many tools available to workers in today's technical environment, but improper use of those tools will also divert attention away from the most critical tasks (Dance, 2013) Our findings demonstrate that employees may be distracted from their jobs by digital devices such as smartphones and computers to personal tasks, resulting in a loss of focus and lower productivity Furthermore, our interviewees also raise awareness of health problems such as eye strain, irritation, burning sensation, and blurred vision by utilizing tech-related machines Study findings indicated the high intensity of asthenopia and burnout rate among high-tech workers (Ostrovsky et al 2012) Thus, technologies leave a significant impact on workers' health and well-being Companies are responsible for the relevance and competence of their workers, as well as being socially responsible for their advancement Thus, any company should recognize skill and career development as a fundamental component for improving their employees' technical skills (Mcgreevy 2003) Not only enhances the organization’s competitiveness, but worker training also facilitates the updating of skills, fosters their sense of belonging and benefit, higher job satisfaction as well as motivates employee commitment within the organization (Acton & Golden 2003) Conclusively, these job-related training and career development intended to help employees to enable their skills and competencies, allowing them to be modernized while remaining relevant to the changing context of work and the labour market (Akkermans et al 2013) VI Appendices List of Interviewees Clothing sellers – Nguyen Thu Trang Bank workers Teachers Grab drivers IT workers Marketers 5.2 List of Question Main Assumption: Technological changes impact both positively and negatively the life of workers Questions to all interviewees Sub-assumption What is your new job role, and how long have you been employed there? Could you explain what your work implies? How satisfied are you with your new job? Did your professional and personal lives ever Work-life balance collide? Positive impacts on workers’ lives Have there been any improvements or variations Work efficiency in the career since you first initiated? Could you Positive impacts on nature of work offer a more detailed description? What strategies did you use to deal with the Adaptation to technology changes? Have you benefited from your company's Positive impacts on nature of work assistance? Or did you make your own adaptations? What effect did these technological advancements Work efficiency have on you, your co-workers, and the company's Positive impacts on nature of work everyday operations? Is it better to be positive or negative? Why people nowadays demand for more Work flexibility flexible working hours than in the past? Are you one Positive impacts on nature of work of those individuals? (link) Work-life balance Positive impacts on workers’ lives Does your employer give you the option of Work flexibility working flexible hours or does it have fixed hours? Positive impacts on nature of work What are your thoughts on the rules of your workplace? 10 Does technology help you secure data more Data security & risk effectively? Have you ever had a problem with data Positive & negative impacts on protection? nature of work Work stability 11 What are your views on incorporating more Negative impacts on nature of work artificial intelligence into the company's everyday (link) Standard of living operations? Is it making you feel threatened or not? Negative impacts on workers’ lives 12 How you feel about getting a job or being Work stability promoted to a higher level in a company? Is it Negative impacts on nature of work simpler or more difficult than in the past? (link) Standard of living Negative impacts on workers’ lives 13 Is technology an important part of your job? Work efficiency What you mean by that? Positive impacts on nature of work Work flexibility Positive impacts on nature of work 14 In today's industry, what skills you believe Work stability are valuable or necessary? 15 Do the company's tech-related workers’ pay Workers’ standard of living more than others? Why you think it is? Positive & negative impacts on workers’ lives (equality) 16 In line with the technological advancements, Adaptation to technology how you plan to maintain your place in your Positive impacts on nature of work business in the future? (link) Work stability Negative impacts workers’ lives if unable to adapt 17 Do you accept or oppose emerging technology Adaptation to technology as it is introduced? What motivates you to so? 18 What can you to keep up with technology Adaptation to technology and have a greater understanding of it? Positive impacts on nature of work 19 Have you had any issues with technology when Adaptation to technology you've had to use it? If so, what was the problem and how did you fix it? Risk of data security Negative impacts on nature of work 20 Have you ever felt like your health was slipping Health of workers away from you? Will you explain why you feel that Negative impacts on workers’ lives way? 21 Do you believe that the introduction of Standard of living technology has a positive effect on your way of life (payment) positive and negative or not? impacts on workers’ lives 22 Do you believe it is appropriate for managers to Work efficiency monitor their workers on a daily basis in order to positive and negative impacts on increase productivity, or you believe there are nature of work other factors at play? 23 Do you believe that using digital technologies Work efficiency such as smartphones and computers for personal Negative impact on nature of work uses will cause workers to become distracted from their work? What is the reason for this? VII Conclusion The dynamics of our lives are shifting as a result of technological advancements We used to be very physically involved, but now we focus on technology to the majority of our jobs Changes in our behavioural habits and adaptations brought about by technological advancements may prove to be the primary driving forces behind our species' next stage of evolution It's simple to see how technical progress and creativity becomes a double-edged sword On the one side, the Internet has resulted in the rise of social media, allowing users to express themselves and communicate with their loved ones in a simple and easy format On either contrary, it has resulted in a slew of issues such as depression, deterioration in coping abilities, inability to concentrate, and health issues such as anxiety and disorientation Reference list Acton, T & Golden, W 2003, ‘Training the knowledge worker: a descriptive study of training practices in Irish software companies’, Journal of European Industrial Training, vol 27, no 2/3/4, pp 137–146 Akkermans, J, Schaufeli, WB, Brenninkmeijer, V & Blonk, RWB 2013, ‘The role of career competencies in the Job Demands — Resources model’, Journal of Vocational Behavior, vol 83, no 3, pp 356–366 Carol Joyce Haddad 2002, Managing technological change: a strategic partnership approach, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, Calif CHALYKOFF, J & KOCHAN, TA 1989, ‘COMPUTER-AIDED MONITORING: ITS INFLUENCE ON EMPLOYEE JOB SATISFACTION AND TURNOVER’, Personnel Psychology, vol 42, no 4, pp 807–834 Dance, J W (2013) The Attractive Nuisance: A Model to Prevent Workplace Distractions Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 5(2), 35-51 Retrieved from jmrpublication.org Hawkins, SM, Yen, DC & Chou, DC 2000, ‘Disaster recovery planning: a strategy for data security’, Information Management & Computer Security, vol 8, no 5, pp 222–230 Le, TH 2020, Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia’s startup ecosystem, www.techinasia.com, viewed May 2021, McGreevy, M 2003, ‘The changing nature of work’, Industrial and Commercial Training, vol 35, no 5, pp 191–195 Nam, T 2013, ‘Technology Use and Work-Life Balance’, Applied Research in Quality of Life, vol 9, no 4, pp 1017–1040, viewed May 2021, Malloch, M, Cairns, L, Evans, K & O’connor, BN 2013, The SAGE handbook of workplace learning, Sage, London Ostrovsky, A, Ribak, J, Pereg, A & Gaton, D 2012, ‘Effects of job-related stress and burnout on asthenopia among high-tech workers’, Ergonomics, vol 55, no 8, pp 854–862 Oz, E, Glass, R & Behling, R 1999, ‘Electronic workplace monitoring: What employees think’, Omega, vol 27, no 2, pp 167–177 Peoples, T 2021, ‘Factors Affecting the Productivity and Satisfaction of Virtual Workers’, Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies, viewed May 2021, Pillis, E de & Furumo, K 2007, ‘Counting the cost of virtual teams’, Communications of the ACM, vol 50, no 12, p 93 West, DM 2015, What happens if robots take the jobs? The impact of emerging technologies on employment and public policy, Brookings, Brookings, viewed May 2021, Zhang, D 2018, ‘Big Data Security and Privacy Protection’, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Management and Computer Science (ICMCS 2018), vol 1, no ... impacts of technological changes on each aspect Ultimately, a conclusion for the effects of technological changes will be provided, as well as suggestions for future research II Introduction In today's... firm databases were also used to support the research 3 .2 Data Collection Personal interviews were applied as a means of implementing the qualitative research approach as well as effectively gathering... positive and negative ways they have been affected as well as the potential effect they believe to be in common in the workplace The issues raised were all related to the theme of technical changes