Joe Bisque
English Composition 106
December 10, 2009
Technology: A New Way to Lose Money
As employees sit at their desks and their boss walks by, most will minimize the web page they are surfing, close the email that they are typing, or cancel the text message that they were about to send. Since the rise of Information Technology (IT) after the conclusion of World War II, companies have been searching for better, quicker communication tools that can increase the speed at which information can be remitted. Such technologies include email, text messaging, video conferencing, social networking websites, and many others. These technologies are meant to improve our current lifestyles and work efficiencies. But do they? While the development of communication technologies is beneficial in many respects, an increasing amount of research is showing that the misuse of these technologies can cost companies large sums of money.
One of the first astounding inventions for quick communications between companies was the fax machine. This machine allowed its users to transfer documents to one another over the phone line in a matter of minutes. This was exceptionally fast compared to the traditional ways of the postal service, which could take at least three, if not more business days, which slowed down the daily operation of a business. Not only was it one of the first ways to speed up the communication process, but it also was a great stepping-stone for further technological development.
With all of the advantages to sending a fax to another company instead of sending documents through the postal service, there are also some disadvantages. The average time it takes to send a fax is about three to five minutes (Godwin-Jones). If an employee is communicating with other companies, this delay can cost the company unnecessary dollars per year just to send the faxes. Another disadvantage to sending a fax is the danger that confidential information can be unintentionally delivered to personnel other than the intended recipient. When a person sends the fax, it simply waits on the printing tray on the receiving end; when an employee is waiting to receive a fax, other faxes might be coming through at the same time, forcing the employee to sort through all of the incoming documents. This is not only a needless task, but it also subjects the company to a certain amount of risk that information could end up in the wrong hands. Additionally, the fax machine led the way to the current circumstance of communication overload.
Shortly after the development of fax machines, email became a popular way to communicate quickly and conveniently. A recent survey of three hundred and thirty business email users in a variety of occupations reveals that on average, a person spends forty-nine minutes every day checking and replying to their messages (Lyman). Gartner, the researcher conducting the survey, found some interesting conclusions:
“Besides obvious “spam,” or unsolicited marketing emails from outside companies, Gartner found 34 percent of email messages were what it called "friendly fire" or "occupational spam" — well-intentioned but unnecessary messages from co-workers. These can include messages sent to wide mailing groups but relevant only to a few users in the group, widely circulated jokes or chain letters, or extraneous acknowledgements such as "You bet," or "Thought so," especially when intended for one person but sent back to all recipients of a group-wide message (Lyman).”
Once they are done reading and responding to their emails, it takes employees, on average, twenty-four minutes to get back to work. Hewlett-Packard conducted a study to determine the mental effects of electronic distraction. They had workers take an IQ test prior to and following electronic distraction and found that the average decrease in the scores was ten points following the distraction: twice as much as a person tested while under the influence of Marijuana (“Managing Information Overload”).
The trend of sending short notes via cellular phones, or texting, has also caught on quickly. This means of communication has its drawbacks, too, though: according to BBCNEWS.com, forty six percent of cell phone users text each other, and “sixty five percent have sent a text message that was misunderstood by the recipient or sent to the wrong person”(BBCNEWS.com). This can be a costly message when it is being sent to clients. Additionally, according to a recent survey done by a college student at the University of Michigan – Dearborn, statistics show that people in white collar professions text friends and family while they are supposed to be working”(“Technology: A New Way to Lose Money”).
Initially, email could only be read through the computer, but following the trend of texting came the usage of BlackBerry’s and other mobile devices that allow their users instant access to email, even on the go. It used to be that when a person stepped out of the office, clients and coworkers were not able to reach him or her. Now that cell phones have these capabilities, people are able to keep in touch with each other continuously. While this can be beneficial when travelling, it can also be misused. Similar to text messaging, emails from cell phones can be confusing and misunderstood, and messages can also be constantly sent to friends and family members. The constant “ding” or “buzz” notifying the recipient of incoming email messages interrupts meetings, distracting others and potentially lessening productivity.
Facebook, founded February 4, 2004 by a couple of Harvard college students, has become one of the biggest global networking sites on the Internet. Along with this popularity comes a major problem: a large number of American workers are becoming “addicted” to constantly updating and searching their pages as well as their friends’ while at work. Facebook is not the only website that has this impact. The Internet, in general, has become a major distraction for employees. Instead of doing research to better the company, they can quickly become distracted and start searching for non-work related topics (BBCNEWS.com).
On average in the United States, companies lose close to $600 billion per year due to the loss of work time caused by employees browsing the Internet for non-work related items, checking spam email, text messaging, and other electronic distractions. Intel recently released data containing the information that admits that they alone lose $1 billion annually due to electronic interruptions (although this also includes the interruptions of the servers not working properly, computer software failing and other IT related issues) (“Managing Information Overload”). As Intel demonstrates, companies that use computers and advanced communication technology lose money not only by lowered employee productivity, but also from the time spent to resolve the issue of lowered productivity.
Over the past few decades, there have been great advancements in communication technology, increasing the speed at which companies can share information with one another. Fax machines, emails, the Internet, cell phones, and social networking websites positively contribute to the daily operations of businesses around the world, but they also negatively impact them by costing companies billions of dollars in loss of productivity. Companies are losing money every day due to their employees checking and replying to spam emails and sending text messages to their clients, friends and families. Although communication technology is beneficial in many ways, there is room for improvement in the regulation of wasted time from the very devices that are meant to save time.
Works Cited
"BBC NEWS | Technology | Facebook 'costs businesses dear'" BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 11 Sept. 2007. Web. 28 Nov. 2009.
Godwin-Jones, Robert. "Emerging Technologies: Messaging, Gaming, Peer-to-Peer Sharing Language." Language, Learning & Technology 9 (2007): 13-14. Print.
Lyman, Jay. "Linux News: News: Spam Costs $20 Billion Each Year in Lost Productivity." LinuxInsider: Linux News & Information from Around the World. 29 Dec. 2005. Web. 28 Nov. 2009.
"Managing Information Overload." Trends 6.10 (2009): 32-34. Print.
"Technology: A New Way to Lose Money." Online interview by Joe Bisque. 16 Nov.
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