IMPACT OF ICT
OFFICE LAYOUT – CELLULAR Advantages Privacy No distractions Ability to personalise space Status Disadvantages Wastes space Difficult to share resources Lack of team spirit Difficult to supervise
OFFICE LAYOUT – OPEN PLAN Advantages Easy to supervise Promotes team spirit Share resources Less space wasted Disadvantages Lack of privacy Lots of distractions Difficult to suit personal needs No individual status
ERGONOMICS Wall colours: relaxing neutral colours Lighting: natural light or desk lamps Noise: suitable floor coverings and location of equipment Heating: good air circulation Equipment/furniture: suitable furniture for the job to be carried out
WORKING PRACTICES AND ICT Advances in technology have allowed workers to be more flexible in their working. Some of these practices include: homeworking teleworking remote meetings
IMPACT OF ICT ADVANTAGES Better work–life balance, increasing productivity Reduction in stress Costs savings on office space Retain workers Cost savings on travel for meetings
DISADVANTAGES Difficult to promote team spirit Difficult to supervise staff Difficult to ensure that staff are complying with health and safety Technical issues if equipment fails
DEVELOPMENTS IN COMMUNICATION Mobile phones Email Instant messaging Wikis Blogs
LOCAL AREA NETWORKS (LANS) Advantages Easy to share peripherals Easier to share files Automatic back-ups Increased security Disadvantages Decrease in productivity if network goes down Increased issue of viruses
INTERNET (E-COMMERCE) ADVANTAGES Able to reach a wide range of customers Access to the site 24/7 Reduced costs Monitor customers for marketing purposes
DISADVANTAGES website Security issues Loss of face-to-face contact Cost of setting up and maintaining website Security issues Loss of face-to-face contact
FILE MANAGEMENT File locations: files should be stored in a suitable location. File name: files should be stored in named folders with suitable file names. Routine maintenance: files should be regularly deleted. Back-up procedures: information should be provided on the organisation’s back-up procedure.
CONSEQUENCES OF POOR FILE MANAGEMENT Time wasted looking for files Poor customer relationships Slowing down of computer systems Poor management decisions Legal implications