Valuing People and Technology in the Workplace: A Competitive Advantage Framework

242 Pages·2012·1.74 MB·English

by  Claretha Hughes

Valuing People and
Technology in the
Workplace:
A Competitive Advantage
Framework
Claretha Hughes
University of Arkansas, USA
Managing Director: Lindsay Johnston
Senior Editorial Director: Heather A. Probst
Book Production Manager: Sean Woznicki
Development Manager: Joel Gamon
Development Editor: Myla Merkel
Acquisitions Editor: Erika Gallagher
Typesetter: Lisandro Gonzalez
Cover Design: Nick Newcomer
Published in the United States of America by
Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global)
701 E. Chocolate Avenue
Hershey PA 17033
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.igi-global.com
Copyright © 2012 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or distributed in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without written permission from the publisher.
Product or company names used in this set are for identification purposes only. Inclusion of the names of the products or
companies does not indicate a claim of ownership by IGI Global of the trademark or registered trademark.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Valuing people and technology in the workplace: a competitive advantage framework / by Claretha Hughes.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary: “This book provides a comprehensive framework that can be used to develop and design case studies that could
measure the identified values that people, technology, and strategy can provide to the organization”--Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-1-4666-0240-3 (hbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-4666-0241-0 (ebook) -- ISBN 978-1-4666-0242-7 (print & perpetual
access) 1. Information technology--Management. 2. Employees--Effect of technological innovations on. 3. Employees--
Training of. I. Title.
HD30.2.H836 2012
658.3’01--dc23
2011044980
British Cataloguing in Publication Data
A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library.
All work contributed to this book is new, previously-unpublished material. The views expressed in this book are those of the
authors, but not necessarily of the publisher.
For Karla Rosmon Banks
and
Eugene and Rosa Mae Hughes
Table of Contents
Foreword by David W. Robertson ....................................................................................................xiii
Foreword by Merlin J. Augustine ......................................................................................................xv
Preface ................................................................................................................................................xvii
Acknowledgment ..............................................................................................................................xxiv
Section 1
Introduction to the Framework
Chapter 1
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................1
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................1
Background .....................................................................................................................................7
Main Focus of the Chapter ...........................................................................................................10
Future Trends ................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................14
Chapter 2
Organizations ........................................................................................................................................18
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................18
Background ...................................................................................................................................19
Main Focus of the Chapter ...........................................................................................................20
Future Trends ................................................................................................................................25
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................25
Chapter 3
People as Technology ............................................................................................................................29
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................29
Background ...................................................................................................................................30
Main Focus of the Chapter ...........................................................................................................32
Future Trends ................................................................................................................................38
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................39
Section 2
Development Initiatives
Chapter 4
Cognitive Initiatives ..............................................................................................................................42
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................42
Background ...................................................................................................................................43
Main Focus of the Chapter ...........................................................................................................44
Issues, Controversies, Problems ...................................................................................................53
Future Trends ................................................................................................................................55
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................55
Chapter 5
Behavioral Initiatives ............................................................................................................................60
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................60
Background ...................................................................................................................................61
Main Focus of the Chapter ...........................................................................................................63
Issues, Controversies, Problems ...................................................................................................68
Future Trends ................................................................................................................................69
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................70
Chapter 6
Cultural Initiatives ................................................................................................................................74
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................74
Background ...................................................................................................................................76
Main Focus of the Chapter ...........................................................................................................78
Evidence-Based Management ......................................................................................................81
Issues, Controversies, Problems ...................................................................................................81
Future Trends ................................................................................................................................82
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................83
Section 3
Values
Chapter 7
Location Value ......................................................................................................................................87
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................87
Background ...................................................................................................................................88
Main Focus of the Chapter ...........................................................................................................89
Issues, Controversies, Problems ...................................................................................................95
Future Trends ................................................................................................................................97
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................97
Chapter 8
Use Value ............................................................................................................................................101
Introduction .................................................................................................................................101
Background .................................................................................................................................102
Main Focus of the Chapter .........................................................................................................103
Issues, Controversies, Problems .................................................................................................108
Future Trends ..............................................................................................................................110
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................111
Chapter 9
Maintenance Value ..............................................................................................................................114
Introduction .................................................................................................................................114
Background .................................................................................................................................115
Main Focus of the Chapter .........................................................................................................115
Issues, Controversies, Problems .................................................................................................119
Future Trends ..............................................................................................................................120
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................121
Chapter 10
Modification Value ..............................................................................................................................123
Introduction .................................................................................................................................123
Background .................................................................................................................................124
Main Focus of the Chapter .........................................................................................................125
Issues, Controversies, Problems .................................................................................................128
Future Trends ..............................................................................................................................130
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................131
Chapter 11
Time Value ..........................................................................................................................................134
Introduction .................................................................................................................................134
Background .................................................................................................................................135
Main Focus of the Chapter .........................................................................................................136
Intersection of People, Technology, and Time ............................................................................138
Issues, Controversies, Problems .................................................................................................139
Future Trends ..............................................................................................................................140
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................141
Chapter 12
People, Technology, and Strategic Human Resource Development (SHRD) .....................................146
Introduction .................................................................................................................................146
Background .................................................................................................................................148
Main Focus of the Chapter .........................................................................................................149
Issues, Controversies, Problems .................................................................................................151
Future Trends ..............................................................................................................................153
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................154
Chapter 13
Using the Five Values to Expand Performance and Workforce Inter-Personnel Diversity ................159
Introduction .................................................................................................................................159
Background .................................................................................................................................160
Main Focus of the Chapter .........................................................................................................161
Leaders’ Use of the Five Values to Meet Workforce Diversity Goals ........................................164
Issues, Controversies, Problems .................................................................................................164
Future Trends ..............................................................................................................................170
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................170
Chapter 14
Competitive Advantage/Conclusion ...................................................................................................176
Introduction .................................................................................................................................176
Main Focus of the Chapter .........................................................................................................178
Issues, Controversies, Problems .................................................................................................179
Future Trends ..............................................................................................................................184
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................185

Compilation of References ...............................................................................................................191
About the Contributors ....................................................................................................................212
Index ...................................................................................................................................................213
Detailed Table of Contents
Foreword by David W. Robertson ....................................................................................................xiii
Foreword by Merlin J. Augustine ......................................................................................................xv
Preface ................................................................................................................................................xvii
Acknowledgment ..............................................................................................................................xxiv
Section 1
Introduction to the Framework
Chapter 1
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................1
This book focuses on the other 99 percent of workers who do not fit into the executive or board member
ranks within organizations. Where does their value to the organization reside? As economies around the
world sit at the precipice of collapse, younger workers are beginning to rebel against excessive unem-
ployment and what they perceive as unfair distribution of wealth. Technology, specifically social media,
has been implicated as the source by which the demonstrations started, yet this author would contend
that technology in the workplace that is valued more than people is the true culprit. Technology has been
displacing workers for generations. Organizations want the best performance from their employees;
however, without knowledge and skill, employees cannot provide their best performance. Employers
must clearly share their expectations or intentions with their employees. The objectives of this chapter
are to discuss: 1) The intention of management with regards to people and technology development
within organizations; 2) The ways that managers currently value people and technology in the workplace.
Chapter 2
Organizations ........................................................................................................................................18
All organizations operate within perspectives, whether acknowledged or not. This author would like to
suggest that all organizations operate primarily from one of three perspectives or a combination thereof.
The three perspectives are cognitive, behavioral, and cultural. In other words an organization’s core val-
ues, strategies, and/or frames originate from the cognitive, behavioral, and /or cultural perspective. The
chapter will focus on the following: (1) Elaborate on the cognitive, behavioral, and cultural perspectives
of organizations within the context of organizational design and (2) Discuss how combinations of the
perspectives can be beneficial to organizations that are striving to understand organizational theory and
behavior to successfully compete.
Chapter 3
People as Technology ............................................................................................................................29
Chapter 3 introduces the concept of people as technology and describes technology development and
people development within organizations. The relative value of people and technology is situational.
Thus, competitive advantage and value are created from employee and technology development and the
appropriate interaction of employee and technology within the organization. This chapter explores how
these development initiatives may or may not relate to one another. The purpose of this chapter is to (1)
examine some challenges of management to recognize similarities and differences between people and
technology development, and (2) to leverage similarities and differences to create strategic advantage
for the organization.
Section 2
Development Initiatives
Chapter 4
Cognitive Initiatives ..............................................................................................................................42
Organizations that operate within the cognitive perspective use cognitive initiatives to develop people and
technology within the workplace. The cognitive initiatives that are most popular in today’s workplace are
teaching, learning, procedures and processes, and motivation. These initiatives are used to accomplish
effective execution of organizational goals. Teaching and learning are often combined, but in this book,
they will be explored separately. The objective of this chapter is to discuss ways that organizations that
focus on the cognitive initiatives of teaching, learning, procedures and processes, and motivation in the
workplace can succeed in the competitive marketplace through its people and technology development.
Chapter 5
Behavioral Initiatives ............................................................................................................................60
Organizations that operate within the behavioral perspective often focus more on the technological impact
within the workplace environment rather than employee roles. They have been accused treating people
as if they are technology since the feelings and emotions of the individual are not valued. It becomes a
matter of controlling employee behavior as opposed to understanding their behavior. The purpose of the
chapter is to: (1) review behavioral initiatives and how technology has impacted the workplace environ-
ment; (2) employee behavior within organizational culture; and (3) examine how organizations that use
the behavioral perspective align their people initiatives with their technological initiatives and goals.
Chapter 6
Cultural Initiatives ................................................................................................................................74
Organizational cultural initiatives are not limited to the internal culture of the organization but are
influenced by the external culture within which the organization operates. Organizational culture is a