Does Automation Bring Qualitative Changes in Organizational Structure More Than Efficiency - Research Proposal Example

Impact of office automation on organization “Does Automation bring qualitative changes in organizational structure more than efficiency?” – Research Proposal Abstract This research proposal highlights the changes that have been noticed in industries on account of automation, both in terms of office computerization and also in terms of manufacture. It seeks to find an answer to the question: “Does Automation bring qualitative changes in organizational Structure more than efficiency?” Introduction Most industries have been automated, including all industries that hitherto relied exclusively on manual labour. We have construction, shipping, and even the simple paint shops automated today. The most important automaton occurred silently after IBM brought out the business machines – computers for business. The computerization of most business and industrial sector has resulted in automation of most of the industries. There are two types of automation, one using humans and the other that do not. The ‘Human automated system’ is not the automatic assembly line of Ford. A simple operation has been reconverted to make humans a cog in the chain of production. Chicken farmers processed chicken in a small way. Companies in the business automated most parts using pulleys and lines and chicken is processed in thousands per hour. The automation equipment is little, but the work force has been organized with simple machines and tools to create an effect of complete automation. It does have serious impact on the work force, quality and method of work. However, it is not true automation in the sense we define it and hence is omitted from this proposal. We also omit assembly lines and the semi-automated environs in industries where we find a machine replacing labour totally. The tractor for example replaced the ploughman and the automatic vending machine replaced the counter clerk. To compare the efficiency of the counter girl replaced by the automatic vending machine is superfluous and not in the ambit of this research, and similar is the case of the teller replaced by an ATM. This research only aims at the segment where automation has brought about a change in the work unit and redefinition of work and methods to an existing workforce or has created empowered workers in a new system. Most of these changes have occurred in offices and in using computing systems. The partial use of man and machines in combination in an assembly line is a fit case for the examination in this proposed study. The proposal is therefore made with these factors that have to be taken as the limitation and boundary of research. Literature Assessment Margrethe H. Olson Henry C. Lucas, Jr. (1982) (1) The fundamental argument of this paper is that most o the technology that is employee in an automation system is not done so with a view to improve the worker's efficiency but to altogether change the nature of work. It s argued that automation will raise a number of issues in the organization framework including adaptation. The consideration of the impact on individuals is explored which makes the source an ideal point to begin exploring the existing ideas on the proposed research. “The use of this book will help us compare their research in the light of modern developments and changes in the automation of offices and workplace after their time." The most innovative changes in office and work place were brought about by computerization. To ignore this system of automation, which has change the way any industry, works is to ignore a major factor. We therefore have to include extensively research aimed at the changes that are brought about by computerization and the effects it had on various segments with a broad perspective. For example, automation in the automobile industry is complicated with the use of software, computers and specially designed automatic systems. We can understand the impact of the computerization in the industry if we consider what changes was brought about in an activity that involved manual tasks previously. In this context Steven R. Kline, Jr., Editorial Director;(2008)(2 ) The author in this article writes about the Eagle Window & Door company which has installed an automated paint line and has obtained the capacity to complete over three thousand aluminum in ten to twenty colours just in a single shift. "With rotary atomizers, Eagle can now handle 10 to 12 color changes and produce 3,000 finished parts every day, eliminating the need to outsource and dramatically cutting lead time. Automation was a result of pressure of market demands. "As market demand for special orders exploded during the last decade, Eagle was forced to keep up with the delivery schedules. Since Eagle's establishment in 1977, the company managed to meet delivery schedules by outsourcing the painting of its aluminum windows and doors to designated job shops. While the finish quality, consistency and durability from the paint shops were excellent, by 1997 outsourcing lead times became so extended that they were beginning to cost Eagle jobs." This article shows how automation can be successfully implemented. Other books and articles proposed to be referred pertains to specific white papers on automation and its impact. Not only a precision industry like windows and doors, but also clerical jobs. this was researched by J. David Roessner et al (2008)(3) explore the implications of automation on the workforce and the shifting paradigm of employment due to the " recent advances in office technology. " The book aims at the banking and insurance sectors and also comes up with a forecast of the future or employment, public policies, and personnel planning which can throw light on the question about the shift in employee roles, and the changes that could be envisaged in a non automated sector taking to automation. Since computerization is the basic form of automation, this volume should help explore the consequences and the changes that have occurred and observed. Especially with regard to clerical employment, we have to assume that clerks are likely to be replaced by techno savvy middle managers with the clerks being done away with. This sweeping change ought to be examined in detail. G.L. Simons (1986) (4) argues that "Managers cannot afford to ignore the rapid changes that are taking place in the field of office automation. The developments include not only a progressive enhancement of particular functions (text processing, graphics, electronic mail, facsimile, etc), but also developments in terms of building architecture, integration of facilities, and communications". Further the trend that is now current in many sectors like expert systems, and electronic office has changed the way managers ought to think and function. The important question of investing and rethinking on productivity and staffing issues has also been considered in detail. This book is likely to shed some light in examining the question at hand. The most important book relevant to this study is by Olson, Margrethe H.(1985) (5) This paper discusses the change in the quality of work life and life in the office and the influence of automation on a large population especially in office jobs. The paper argues that automation fails to live up to the claims of dramatic increases in productivity that typically accompanies their implementation." therefore this volume ought to be a very important source of reference for the research. The conclusion is that if certain implementation guidelines are met, “technology can be applied to both improve organizational productivity and effectiveness and to accommodate employees with high quality work life." There is a need to identify the research method for this proposal, which will include many unique features. Therefore, it is wise to consider the research methodology for this type of research and the following book and article on the subject ought to be a guide. Some of the concepts regarding measuring input and output vary with the conventional methods. Jane Gerold(2004)," Automation World online survey shows that many manufacturers don't track KPIs. Key performance indicators, or KPIs, are critical measurement tools in the push for improved performance, but many manufacturers fail to implement them. According to a recent online survey" This is a key concept to be used in this research and will be explored further. The comment further states: "Topping the list of indicators that are measured are throughput and productivity, at 79 percent each, and downtime, at 76 percent. Other leading indicators monitored by the 77 survey respondents include inventory levels, at 68 percent; raw material costs, at 61 percent; and labor costs, at 58 percent. ARC Advisory Group, manufacturing consultants based in Dedham, Mass., groups manufacturing KPIs in the following broad categories: Production and inventory, Asset utilization, Quality, Revenue and profits, plus Costs” the argument also runs to using” real-time information, and linking that to the business decision systems. Survey respondents use several methods for collecting manufacturing data to measure operational and financial metrics." the statistics found in this section of the study could be used as secondary data for the research. The site has guidance articles on automation contributed by various surveys, which are intended to be relied on. For the selection and consideration of the variables and methodology it is proposed to rely on a number of books relating to design of experiments and to fit this research one or two key elements peculiar to the subject is to be considered. One is the KPI as seen above and the other relates to the rest of the variables to be included to make the study meaningful. The design of this research and the methods of analysis for this hypothesis is created and proposed after considering the following sources which provide the methods of creating a research design and how to implement it with regard to the automation study. Though the following books are not perused and studied in full, it is shown by reviews that they are useful to this study and is proposed to be included as sources for the research. One important book is Abbas Tashakkori et al (1998), (7) this book appears to be related to social research and is likely to be useful in the design of experiments. The review claims that it " "Social research, unlike natural science disciplines, investigates the activities, beliefs, values and situations of other human beings..." Therefore it is proposed to be included in the study. It is said to be helpful in formulating research questions, clarify issues, and seek the method of publishing findings. This insight will be invaluable to the researcher and hence it is proposed to be studied and used in detail. John W. Creswell(2003);(8) "In the past two decades, research approaches have multiplied to a point at which investigators or inquires have many choices..." the other website content that also is proposed to be used will be to get an outline the method of sample and data collection. One proposed article is “A Brief Guide to Questionnaire Development” found at http://www.ericae.net/ft/tamu/vpiques3.htm. Similarly, Robert B. Frary speaks on questionnaires and other tools in his articles. It is also proposed to include the AiR university Sampling Survey Handbook. Many more references are needed and since the research encompasses the use of the internet and available data it is expected to fulfill the needs of the research by finding specific related books that can be used in addition to the above. Research design This research pertains to sociological and managerial issues that sets out to high light the changes that have occurred due to automation and narrows the scope to the research of automation and its consequences within a predetermined boundary of the term – automation. The structure of the proposed design is in three parts as shown by the following ‘Blocks’ of activities as shown below which should be enough to bring about the desired research without faulty interpretations. The Observation and measure setting : The literature cited above and more available on this subject will be studied thoroughly and the ambit of the title of the research and parameters defined with all necessary variables that ought to be studied, their nature and expected or previously observed behavior or response will be codified and a preliminary data creation formality with complete index will be prepared. Then the program that is expected to be run on the samples that is either survey or correspondence, direct observation, study of files and so on, any or all of the methods that can be chosen at the time of formulating the research will then be done. Proper segregation of data groups and control groups will be designed. Design methods will itself involve lot of reading and understanding of the quantitative methods that are appropriate to this kind of research. While confirming that it will relate to the models used in research in psychology, which closely relates to the topic, care will have to be taken to design an unique method in consultation with the guide as to the appropriate experiment design. In this design we use multiple streams: 1) Available literature that have origins from verifiable sources, 2) careful selection of two or more business from automation (physical) ie automobile or production unit that meet the criteria of the definitions in this proposal. 3) Selection of more than 4 companies that have within the past 3 years automated their office or computerized the office. It is proposed to include a bank, a general business, a marketing firm and so on for variety. The design is to then create specific questionnaires, interaction modules with the officials and carefully selected workers of the company. The interaction is aimed at bringing out the difference in terms of employer and employee opinion before and after the automation. These responses will then be codified and made in to arithmetic equivalents which will then be subject to a chi square test to find the correlation. Other appropriate methods of testing will also be explored. The design can thus be summarized in this picture: Proposed Work Plan 1. The proposed work plan is to undertake the study of the materials and available information as a first step and bring out a ready reckoner of information which will help identify the parameters for the research and also set the ground for the design of the methodology 2. Then the research including all aspects will be designed in detail. 3. The surveys and observations will be completed next 4. Then the resultant information will be analysed and conclusions arrived at. Ethical Issues The ethical issues that is to be considered in a research of this kind falls into two categories. One is the use of confidential data that may be collected including private data from persons. It is proposed to obtain written consent in the case of data that may be required to be reported as it is, including passages from books and other findings. It is also planned to convert responses to quantitative data and aggregates to remove the issue of personal information. This is the first category, which encompasses information that is collected and used. The second category relates to the integrity of the findings. The field of research is so vast and automation means different things to different industries. To arrive at a common hypothetical platform we have unified all automation as one and have considered office automation as the base for research. Many technical information regarding plant automation and ‘manually automated’ systems as discussed in the introduction have been left out of the scope to make the research meaningful. The research also relies on the use of public resources and participation of individuals whose opinions while helping the researcher may also harm the respondent if his or her peers like bosses or owners of the work place knew it. Present ethics demands that while the disclosures are kept confidential, it also requires that information in such a way that the respondent could be in no way traced to the opinion. Lastly, we have to take care in using the work of others including books and internet material, which has to be verified for authenticity, and we will avoid all types of plagiarism giving maximum credit where it is due. Limitations One of the important limitations which we also mentioned in the ethics section is the vastness of the concept of ‘automation’. The human element in some automated systems is being left out. We have also omitted to consider the ‘human automated systems’ and also left out the impact of automation in some industries like agriculture, transports and other industries that require a lot of time to cover. The limitation of this research is that it is limited to mainly the ‘white collar’ or office goers and some workers. The effects also will mostly pertain to office automations and automation in chosen industries like automobile industry where both the office automation and the automation of work process have combined. Even though the samples are selected to reflect the general truth of the system and its effects, we cannot assure that the research is exhaustive. It will indicate the major components and the key findings to the question “Does Automation bring qualitative changes in organizational Structure more than efficiency?” It is submitted that the results will be specific to the key industries analyzed and will be specific to the culture and work climate of this country. In some countries, automation has brought about vast changes in the efficiency of the work force. We have mentioned the process of outsourcing and automation abroad affecting the internal office and work mechanism. Because of its huge dimensions and scope, we could not include it into this research. The findings will have to be considered and acted upon with these limitations in consideration. The important ethical issue is in the conclusions. There are margins for error and oversight. Being a sensitive topic that relates to humans, we cannot have an absolute measure of the responses and there may be error in the interpretations of the response or the response itself may be made on erroneous assumptions. Proposed data handling and analysis Data is to be used in a derivative manner, that is as collected for the research and all data will be designed in such a way that they can be quantified. Secondary data will be obtained from books, journals and earlier allied research. It is proposed to use software commonly available like Microsoft Excel, or statistical software that can be used free as open ware. It is also proposed to use the expertise of the guide and other scholars who have accomplished much in this area of research in evaluating data. References (1) Margrethe H. Olson Henry C. Lucas, Jr. (1982) The impact of office automation on the organization: some implications for research and practice, Publisher ACM New York, NY, USA Source Communications of the ACM archiveVolume 25 , Issue 11 (November 1982) Online reference http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/358690.358720 (2 )Steven R. Kline, Jr., Editorial Director;(2008) Automation Sends Productivity Soaring PFOnline.com http://www.pfonline.com/articles/020001.html [Ref on 24-01-08] (3) J. David Roessner (2008), Robert M. Mason,, Alan L. Porter , Frederick A. Rossini, A. Perry Schwartz), and Keith R. Nelms :The Impact of Office Automation on Clerical Employment, 1985-2000: Forecasting Techniques and Plausible Futures in Banking and Insurance (Hardcover) Publisher: Quorum Books (December 23, 1985) (4) G.L. Simons (1986) Management Guide to Office Automation; Publisher: Blackwell Publishers (31 Dec 1986) (5) Olson, Margrethe H.(1985) (5) Rethinking Office Automation. Stern School of Business, New York University Sep-1985 http://archive.nyu.edu/handle/2451/14548 [ jan 2008] (6) Jane Gerold(2004),Editorial Director Throughput, Productivity http://www.automationworld.com/view-589 [Ref jan 2008] (7) Abbas Tashakkori et al (1998),Charles B. Teddlie (Author) Mixed Methodology: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches mixed model studies, mixed model designs, mixed investigations, Developmental Research Sequence, United States, Comparison of the Monomethod Prototypes Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc [courtesy Amazon.com] (8) John W. Creswell(2003); Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (2nd Edition) (Paperback) Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd; 1 edition [courtesy Amazon.com] (9) AiR university Sampling Survey Handbook. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/edref/smpl-srv.pdf Read More