Workplace Communication Smartphones and Mobile Internet

Question: Discuss about the Workplace Communication for Smartphones and Mobile Internet. Answer: Introduction Today with the advancement in field of information technology, every workplace has its influence. Many changes have seen at workplaces due to implementation of computers, internet technologies and other IT services. If at one side, these IT changes have positive impacts at workplaces then on other side some potential challenges are also found. These changes of workplaces will present many challenges and opportunities for both HRM and employees in future. Here in this report, we will discuss about an essential workplace future change in detail. In this discussion we will emphasize on logical arguments about topic, effects of this particular change and theoretical approach of this workplace future change. In this era of information technology, use of mobile apps has increased significantly. Every mobile user is using apps for different purposes. From mobile recharge to online shopping are done by using mobile apps. Mobile apps are easier to install and use by normal users and also thes e are quick and reliable. The invention of smartphones has increased the usage of mobile applications or mobile apps. Now in future, it is possible that employees will use apps to manage their work and personal life in better way. As we know that employees are already using mobile phones at their workplaces in their free times for calling, sending and receiving information, online bookings and online shopping etc. But in future, it will be possible for employees to manage their personal life and work through apps in better way. Now the question is how it will be possible. Now to answer this, we will discuss about this topic in detail in next segment of this report. Discussion According to analysis, we got to know that more of the companies exist that have already moving towards usage of mobile apps at their workplaces. The managers and executives of company want better solutions for managing their field work, staff members and back office functions and systems. Besides this, there is also requirement for effective ways of better communication to customers and clients worldwide and to collect critical information that is required for business management. These all needs are necessary in order for the workforce to operate at optimal efficiency and productivity levels. There is an effective solution to fulfill all these requirements at workplace i.e. Mobile Apps. With the help of mobile apps it will become easier for workforce to access up-to-date and real time information for enhancing collaboration. During this analysis, we also got to know about rates of adoption of mobile apps in the workforce. Adoption Rates of Mobile Apps in the Workforce Most of the applications are adopted at workplaces that are implementing strategies and solutions that allow workforce to work from remote locations anytime and from any device. It is identified that mobile workforce gives shape to the workplace, so it is hard to characterize mobile as a trend. According to survey of an article of CIO, it is found that more than 70% of respondents are planning to train more than thousand users with mobile apps. While implementing mobile maps, it is necessary to remember that mobile adoption is actually relies on help desk support, policy of BYOD and tactics. Besides this, there are some essential key findings regarding adaption of mobile apps in the workforce and that findings are listed as below: The mobilization of business processes is a key and more than 50% apps have created that support core business processes such as internal app development or developing apps of partners. The training of using mobile apps at workplace is crucial. Therefore, from above analytics it can be predicted that use of mobile phones will be helpful for workforce at workplaces. After discussing about adaption rates of mobile apps at workplaces, in next segment of this report, we will discuss about implications of employees due to usage of mobile apps at workplaces. Implications of Employees for using mobile apps at workplaces The common implications that may be encountered by employees while using mobile apps at workplaces for managing work and their personal life, are different ways of working, new skills, new work challenges, new experience of managing work with advanced technology and implementation of new ways of communication and information sharing (Blue Ocean Strategy, 2017). Different Ways of Working It is right that implementation of any new technology at workplace causes different ways of working for employees. With the use of mobile apps at workplace, employees will do their work online rather than offline or in manual way. The availability of critical information that is required for business will become easier for employees with the help of mobile apps, because through internet and mobile apps, it is possible to receive information from others. It is an effective way to manage information sharing. By using mobile apps, employees can use real time information that is required to perform workplace activities. Mobile apps can be used by non-technical staff members in an organization such as HR manager and others. New Skills The usage of mobile applications, internet and mobile phones etc. will introduce new skills in employees and will connect them to new technologies. The employees will know how they can work in most reliable and quick way. New Work Challenges If there are various benefits of using mobile apps at workplaces then there are also some challenges exist that can be faced by employees. The first challenge is to maintain security of information that is transferring through mobile apps. While using this technology, employees must have basic knowledge to use mobile phones and internet. It is important for employees to maintain privacy of confidential data by using required login credentials. The mobile apps are easy to hack than other web applications, so it will be better to be aware. New experience of managing work with advanced technology The mobile apps have potential to manage work in an appropriate way in comparison of manual management of work at workplace. The online saving and collection of business information enhances its availability worldwide. The apps like Google Drive, Sky Drive and social networking sites, are helpful to send and receive information from source to destination through mobile phones. It is a good replacement for desktop computers where an employee has to be in office to use it. But mobile phones and its apps have enhanced the portability of devices and user can share information from anywhere outside his/her office through mobile phones. New Ways of Communication and Sharing Information There are various mobile apps available that are used for communication and for sending media and text information. These types of mobile apps are Whatsapp, Hike, Google Chat etc. These are small mobile applications and easy to install. By installing these applications into mobile phones, users can communicate anytime and from anywhere. At workplaces, it is also helpful to communicate with employees of different departments, with clients and customers those are remote locations. If employees will have knowledge about these different techniques of communication and sharing information then they can do their work in an appropriate way. These are some major implications that employees will face after implementing mobile apps their workplaces. Not only employees but Human Resource Manager or HRM also face some implications due to execution of mobile apps at workplaces. These implications may different from implications of employees. Implications of HR for using mobile apps at workplaces Human Resource Manager plays an important role in every business organization. If any new technology will be introduced at workplace then it is possible that all departments of a company will be impacted with that technology. In this case, it is necessary for HRM to adapt a new change swiftly. A critical role of HRM to help businesses, to manage organizational and technical change allows him/her to understand core of new technology. Here in this segment of report, we will emphasize on some implications of HRM for using mobile apps at workplaces (Ziegler, Matt, 2017). Through mobile apps, new HR portals and platforms can be used that digitizes much of the information that is required by human resource manager. This information can be used by HRM anytime and from anywhere according to requirements. The introduction of new technology gives access of Big Data to HR. It provides an effective way for HRM to understand business customers, new market audiences, new trends and communication with existing and future employees. The combination of Big Data with other technologies will be more beneficial for HRM in a way that it provides incredible amount of vision and allow HR professionals to make critical decisions (The Huffington Post, 2017). Cloud based mobile apps can be used easily by Human Resource Manager. This kind of apps allow human resources managers to access their information in more readily form that is accessible anywhere and anytime (Brandon, 2017). Mobile apps provide modern HR systems which is a future of technology at workplaces. Through this system, HRM will have many things to look forward such as cloud computing, easier storage, greater transparency and better insights (ClickSoftware, 2017). These are some implications that will be faced by Human Resource Manager while implementing mobile apps at workplaces. As we can see that above discussed implications will be beneficial for HRM to perform its business operations and for better decision making. Therefore, on the behalf of above discussion we can say that execution of mobile apps at workplaces will bring a great change in style of work of employees as well as in HRM as we have discussed above. Besides employees and HRM, leaders and managers are also important for a business organization and with usage of mobile apps at workplace they will also be influenced (TestObject, 2017). Implications of Leaders and Managers for using mobile apps at workplaces Mobile apps are helpful for leaders and managers at workplaces. The Skype, Team Viewer, Social Networking Websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn etc. are mobile applications that are used by managers and leaders in business organizations to communicate with their team members, clients and customers worldwide to discuss projects with them. By using these apps, calling and information sharing can be done by leaders and managers easily. It is an effective way to work at workplace by using advanced technology such as mobile apps etc. While working on a project, it is required sometimes to communicate with remote team members to discuss project details and it is possible with the help of mobile applications. So in this way, leaders and managers can manage their work online anytime and from anywhere and can also provide guidance to team members regarding projects. While using these techniques of mobile and web applications, it is necessary to maintain security and privacy of information. It i s easy for hackers to hack privacy and security of data from mobile apps and web applications (Forbes.com, 2017). In this way, mobile apps can be used in business organizations for different purposes at different levels. As we have discussed above mobile apps are used by managers, leaders, HRM and employees in different ways to manage their business activities. It shows that in future the usage of these technologies at workplace will be beneficial and it will be easier for employees to manage their work easily. Conclusion After this whole discussion we can say that usage of advanced technologies has become increased due to its benefits and opportunities that we have already discussed above. The main purpose of this report is to discuss that how employees will use apps at workplace to manage their work and personal life. In this report, we have discussed all essential points regarding this in detail. From above discussion we got to know that not only employees but also managers, leaders and human resource managers can manage their work with the help of mobile applications. The invention of smartphones have large contribution in popularity of smartphones. But one thing that is required to consider in usage of mobile phones and its applications is maintenance of security and privacy of data and it is responsibility of technical department of an organization. The management of an organization is also fully responsible in implementation of mobile apps or any new technology. Now from above discussion it is cleared that if employees will use mobile apps at work then they can manage their work appropriately from anywhere. Other major advantage of using mobile apps is that employees can work from home. The business meetings and information sharing can do easily with the help of mobile and web applications like team viewer, Skype etc. The emerging technologies are quick and reliable and users can do their work swiftly. Therefore, these technologies must be supported by all business organizations to manage their work and to get better business outcomes. References Brandon, J. (2017). 4 IT leaders share the mobile apps they use every day. [online] CIO. Available at: https://www.cio.com/article/3057875/mobile-apps/4-it-leaders-share-the-mobile-apps-they-use-every-day.html [Accessed 20 Jan. 2017]. The Huffington Post. (2017). The Impact of Technology on HR and What's Ahead. [online] Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/meghan-m-biro-/the-impact-of-technology-_1_b_9294208.html [Accessed 20 Jan. 2017]. TestObject. (2017). How Smartphones and Mobile Internet Have Changed Our Lives TestObject. 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Mobile Apps in the Workforce: Overcoming Challenges to Reap the Benefits of a Fully Mobile Workforce | ClickSoftware. [online] Available at: https://www.clicksoftware.com/blog/mobile-apps-in-the-workforce-overcoming-challenges-to-reap-the-benefits-of-a-fully-mobile-workforce/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2017]. Blue Ocean Strategy. (2017). Blue Ocean Mobile Apps | Strategy Canvas | Leadership Canvas. [online] Available at: https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/mobile-apps/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2017].