Tec 401 - Human Factors in Technology - Technology Management Functions

Technology and Management Functions

Human Factors in Technology/TEC401

Technology and Management Functions

Technology and management within an organization must work with one another for the organization to be successful. Managers must identify the technological needs of the organization, but they must also understand that the technology must complement the personnel and guidance of organizational leaders. When management within an organization fails to use advancements in technology correctly, the organization may not perform to a high standard, which could result in lower production and organizational success. The purpose of this paper is to describe how Pine Bluff Arsenal management expects technology to improve business, how current technology meets business needs, and how current technology does not meet business needs within the Department of Information Management at Pine Bluff Arsenal.

How Management Expects Technology to Improve Business

Manager roles in innovation and technological improvements within a business are to provide training, leadership, and guidance by motivating employees within the organization in support of approved advancements in technological improvements or changes (Regan & O'Connor, 2002). Employees follow leads and examples demonstrated by the managers and supervisors within an organization. When managers and supervisors support the improvements recommended for increasing organizational processes and production, they will benefit from the knowledge gained from motivating and encouraging the employees and help the employees understand the need for the changes. The managers and supervisors must find and develop ways to motivate the employees to acknowledge, accept, and implement the innovative changes while ensuring the employees understand how the innovative changes will affect the organization, the employees, and organizational functionality. Success within an organization is dependent on the successful implementation of motivational plans developed by the managers and supervisors within the organization.

I work as an information technology operations specialist within an organization that supports the United States Army in many ways. Pine Bluff Arsenal provides production and shipment support for color smoke grenades; color artillery rounds, chemical and biological protective gear and equipment, and stored chemical warfare agents for the United States military. As a member of the Department of Information Management at Pine Bluff Arsenal, I must ensure that I understand how technology affects daily operations and the employees using that technology. Leaders within the Department of Information Management are the advisors to the commander of Pine Bluff Arsenal and how that technology will improve and increase production within the organization and arsenal. Managers within the different production areas and tenant organizations on Pine Bluff Arsenal perform various functions that require an ongoing monitoring of technological advancements and the process functions associated with or operated by those advancements.

Pine Bluff Arsenal implements major projects to improve the use of technology designed to improve business operations. For example, two major projects currently in progress at this time are Windows 7 upgrades and Enterprise e-mail migration. The Department of the Army mandated the implementation of these two technological advancements to support business operations found within Pine Bluff Arsenal. The Windows 7 upgrades will improve computer processes and increase administrative functions. The Enterprise e-mail initiative will bring Pine Bluff Arsenal e-mail processes online with other major organizations and put Pine Bluff Arsenal in line with Information Assurance and Vulnerability Assessment standards. Information Assurance and Vulnerability Assessment requirements mandate compliance with standards that protect the organization's internal network systems as well as connections to other organizations and installations, against threats designed to defeat support enabled through information management programs, equipment, and processes.

How Current Technology Meets Business Needs

Technology affects innovation by encouraging and forcing changes to occur in businesses that improve, advance, or accelerate organizational processes. Innovation forces technology to improve beyond its current state. Leaders within organizations must continually look for ways to improve or advance the processes in place and find innovated ways to advance the technology in the organization (Regan &