Organizational Trends, Ethical Decision Making, and Impacts of Technology

Organizational Trends, Ethical Decision Making, and Impacts of Technology

Organizations of the twenty-first century are proving that in order to stay competitive they must reorganize the old hierarchical structure and transform into separate company hybrids. The old hierarchical control is somewhat still in tact but decision making and technology now influence the ways organizations are headed. Several organizational trends are continuing to affect organizations of the twenty-first century. For example, organizations are continuing to outsource leaving fewer jobs for current employees. Because of technology, jobs are more competitive and workers require more training. The influence of ethics in decision-making and the impact of technology are two of the largest impacts of organization trends. This paper will discuss ethics in decision-making, and the impact of technology on work related stress.

As a manager, there are several ethical decision-making changes with the uncertainty of the technology world. There are three decision-making changes organizations constantly face these are overcoming hierarchical management styles, cultural changes, and information technology. First, the first dilemma in an organization is that management is trying to break the habit of controlling an organization through hierarchical structure. Meaning managers input and control only travels one direction from the top down. Because of the change in technology, mangers will need to allow individuals to self manage and step into more of a consultant leadership role. Decision-making will need to be on more of a consensus collaborate effort and within teams. Along with this top management also have the opportunity to set up boundaries so that all decisions follow a checklist before implementing anything.

According to book Organizational Behavior suggestions for integrating ethical decisions should be as follows, develop a code of ethics and follow it, establish procedures for reporting violations, involve employees in identifying ethical issues, monitor ethical performance, reward ethical behavior, and publicize efforts.

Another ethical decision-making change is that organizations are continuing to out source and globalize making many organizations an e-business. With this come, different cultural factors that influence ethical decision-making because of the increase in immigrant, workers and out sourcing management have to reevaluate decision-making. Most decisions are based on the values of the person making the decision. Management will need to understand other cultures before making impromptu decisions. In order to be successful organizations need to integrate moral codes and ethical monitoring of decision-making processes. Some examples stated in the text Organizational behavior of unethical practices in decision making are, deceit, fraud, evasion of negligence, and lying.

The third change is in the decision making process is with technology. Innovation has brought the dismissal of face-to-face contact and the rise of artificial intelligence. When calling most companies or searching on a web site you will not often find a live voice or even a number to call on the web site. Organizations often times have switched to email use when needing tech support. A great example of this would be Amazon.com. Often I need to call and talk to a live person and I have to search for a number. They believe in being over efficient and try to predict questions consumers might have. Is this process ethical? Organizations that are switching to technology-based operations tend to need fewer employees.

The negative side of this type of decision-making is that decisions made are impersonal and lacks follow through. Technology has created many opportunities for organizations but can also create greater amounts of stress.

Technology in the twenty-first century is continuing to grow. Many organizations are wrapped up in how technology will change and impact organizational structure. According to the article Information Technology and Restructuring in Public Organizations, technology adoption can possibly have two profound effects in organizational structure.

“First, it may reduce the number of organizational members across the whole of the organization, that is, reduce the size of the organization. Alternatively, it may reduce or expand employment at any particular organizational level, thus significantly altering the structure of the organization.”

The innovation of technology has both positive and negative affects as well as stressful affects. Organizations are starting to restructure and downside because of how much technology can do. Online Universities allow professors from all over the world to teach classes in the privacy of their own home while possibly running another business. It also allows students to attend school