Technology will have a negative impact on morale and
productivity unless it is aligned with business objectives and good
people management, says the CIPD report, Technology and People
Management: the Opportunity and the Challenge.
The report singles out the potential for technology to restrict
employees' freedom and autonomy as a particular concern, and calls
on employers to limit the impact of the 'dark side' of technology
by involving HR in the
design and implementation of new systems.
According to Graeme Martin, author of the report, "Every
solution brings with it equivalent problems and technology is no
different. But employers have one fundamental choice when
implementing a technical system – whether the technology is a tool
to empower employees or control them.”
"Too much control may leave employees feeling under
surveillance, while too much empowerment may not meet business
needs,” he explains. “It is up to HR to highlight these choices and
work with designers and implementers of new technologies to ensure
there is a balance between empowerment and control."
The report, launched at the CIPD HR Software Show, highlighted
other problems with new technologies. These include:
- alienating employees from a lack of face-to-face
interaction;
- increasing work intensity due to mobile working
technology;
- de-skilling of manual work as technology replaces traditional
skills;
- surveillance and intrusion at work through monitoring devices;
and
- health and safety problems such as repetitive strain injury,
eyesight problems and backache.
Graeme Martin concludes:
The main problem is that many employers do
not involve HR in the design and implementation of new technology
despite nearly every informed commentator suggesting that
technology is the single most important transforming force on work.
Employers need to involve HR professionals and encourage them to
show interest in the more imaginative uses of technology."
