Tip for the Top

Change & IT

Change is nothing new. The development of a modern industrialised society, by its very nature, involves a great deal of change over a prolonged period of time. However, the change resulting from the introduction of IT may be rapid and consequently have a profound effect on employees and the culture of organisation.

Resistance to the introduction of IT may come from not just the employees but line management who may feel a threat to their status, ego or loss of control over information and deskilling.

Understanding the fear factor is a start to reducing such resistance and increasing the chances of success as well as;

Effective communication with people at all levels – even those who may not be directly affected or be involved with the proposed IT change.
Involve employees who have intimate knowledge of the task – failure to take this knowledge into account may result in the solution not fitting the problem or induce resistance so that those carrying out the task by-pass the new technique wherever possible.
Ensure that employees who have had little contact with IT are given extra training and support.

The general implications, however, for the management of the introduction of IT are that IT by itself does not affect the nature of the task nor the organisation. Rather it is the people and the environment, in which it operates, which are the crucial factors.

About Tip for the Top

Tip for the Top is published in "Suffolk Business Magazine" where Lina Hogg is a regular contributor.

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