Stephen P. Borgatti’s five trends are Globalization, Diversity, Flexibility, Flatness, and Networking.
Globalization: - In order for businesses to succeed companies will have to position them for global competition. Globalization in the business environment is the movement beyond domestic and national markets to other markets around the globe. This causes an increase in the interconnectedness of different markets. Globalization has increased not only international trade, but also cultural exchange. As seen personally, the most important industry affected due to globalization is software industry. The competition and the development of industry itself are increasing very rapidly. This has been due to improvements in communications and the services available globally.
Diversity: - Diversity means that companies nowadays have a more heterogeneous workforce, that they need to cope with different styles of clothing, interaction, presentations and the media. I think it is a good thing that companies diversify themselves, as this can lead to different thinking and different experiences within the company.
Flexibility: - Flexibility means that the organization is flexible regarding processes, people, rules, procedures, autonomy etc. Flexibility is needed to stay competitive, to adapt to new situations, and to compete with other organizations. Organizations must be flexible in today's market to adapt to changing situations.
Flat: - A flat organization is one that has fewer management levels. Employees are empowered to make decisions and there are fewer differences in responsibilities across organizational levels. This trend has been a result of the increase of information technology use, globalization, and the need to cut costs. Flat organizations enable discussions, decision making of employees and increasing motivation among employees. I think a flat organization can be more flexible and more competitive than an organization with more hierarchical levels, as communication is necessary to adapt to new situations.
Networks: This is a necessary trend because it provides better information technology, better communication and transportation technology, flexibility and faceless communication.
Networked organizations encourage communications across all levels of the company. They encourage communication regardless of the chain of command. They utilize cross- unit teams and focus on decentralization.
V/S.
I have seen so many changes in the information technology and communications, which helps organizations to utilize the time most effectively in the 21st Century.
The trends that Borgatti writes about are truly fitting for today's borderless world. The work environment has changed dramatically with new technology and I believe it will continue to adapt and adjust with the advent of each new innovation. Particularly in the area of communication there is opportunity to use many formats and adopt varieties of solutions for a more mobile, less structured workplace. Management must be on the frontline of all the trends in order to attract employees and customers. In this worldwide competitive environment, managers must stay ahead of the game.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most interesting things to me is how slow government is to adopt these newest trends in their workplaces. Having worked for government for the last 10 years, I am amazed at the lack of progression. As a major employer nationally, statewide and locally, government should be a leader in utilizing the latest trends to make their workplaces as efficient, as productive and useful as they can. These 21st century trends aren't likely to show up in my workplace until well into the next century!
Discussing the topic of diversity in the workplace, I had to include this link that focuses on immigration in the U.S. and the immigrants that are now leaving the U.S. to return home for a better opportunity. As the article states, it is ironic that most Americans only see the negative side of immigration and not the positive. Take a look and see what you think.
http://www.ethnicmajority.com/workplace.htm
I really liked this
I enjoy reading any article about "21st century organizational trend" because I love the fast development of new technologies such as the internet, E-mail, online chatting, blog and mobile phones.
ReplyDeleteNow it is very easy to convey any messages to a person or an organization quickly becaose of new technoloies,and it is different than in the past.
Chieh Chang
While technology has indeed cultivated organizations to expand beyond many unimaginable barriers, there is a perceived lack of regulation. In my IFMG course last semester, the professor discussed how laws and regulations are often created in result to a crisis or negative occurence in technology, mainly the interent. I found this very interesting. Technology has exceeded expectations in such a way that often it is setting the stage and paving the road for itself.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, e-mail, a system that is arguably over used by employees in an organization, especially when dealing with those constituents that work in the same area, is already being replaced by a quicker method of communication through instant messaging systems. Unforunately, many of these technologies, although they add speed to the transfer of information, can also lead to a loss in productivity.
The below article discusses the use of instant messaging in the workplace.
http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Instant-Messaging-Business-Networks.html
Carrie Jenkins