This bit of marketing wizardry was a glossy multi-page high cost marketing document from Street Technologies, the front page read “How to eliminate half your workforce” the second page read “get the other half to use your software”. Does anyone, spot a problem with this? Oh in case you are wondering, Street Technologies does not exist anymore, I wonder why?
It sums up nicely a major issue for corporate IT, it lacks a heart. IT’s incursion into the corporate landscape over the past 40 years has been filled with replacement of staff by computers, the automation and elimination of many low skilled jobs such as parking attendants and more recently mass retrenchments due to outsourcing and offshoring, all made possible by corporate technology. Now I hear you say, isn’t that a good thing, company’s are more productive and profitable than ever aren’t they? And yes you could be right, evidence is finally showing IT now improves productivity (not a sure thing in the first 20 years of the IT revolution), its effect on profitability is less certain as technology has generally intensified competition in most industries.
However from an individuals point of view corporate IT has been a disaster, with IT leading to retrenchment, family dislocation and competition for employment from countries not previously thought possible. Even CEO’s who have signed off on IT investments, off shoring and mass retrenchments have not been immune from the personal effects. I bet there is not a CEO in office who has not had themselves or a close family member impacted negatively by corporate IT. No wonder corporate IT departments are viewed with suspicion and fear in most organisations. And it will remain that way until corporate IT finds its heart and focuses on enhancing employees lives rather than eroding them.
Many consumer IT companies have greatly enhanced individual wellbeing, Apple Computer and Nintendo come to mind. The challenge for them will be the subject of next weeks blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment