Assignment 2 group research report a conclusion for the effects of technological changes will be provided, as well as suggestions for future research

WORKING IN GLOBAL
SOCIETY [BUSM4561]
Assignment 2 - Group Research Report

Tutor’s name: Nhu Do Thi Huong
Team: 6
Members:
Pham Hoang Yen - S3845763
Nguyen Thi Hong Hue - S3726219
Nguyen Minh Trung - S3818776
Pham Phuong Linh - S3822054
Suyeon Ji - S3819673
Pham Nguyen Hai Nam - S3880892


Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary...............................................................................................................1
II. Introduction.........................................................................................................................1
III. The Study Method..............................................................................................................1
3.1 Research.....................................................................................................................................1
3.2 Data Collection..........................................................................................................................2
3.3 Data analysis..............................................................................................................................2
3.4 Interviewee’s Characteristics...................................................................................................3

IV. The Findings.......................................................................................................................3
4.1 Work flexibility & Work-life balance.......................................................................................3
4.2 Health of workers......................................................................................................................4
4.3 Data security (risk) & Work efficiency....................................................................................4
4.4 Work stability & Workers’ standard of living.........................................................................5
4.5 Adaptation to technology..........................................................................................................5

V. Discussion.............................................................................................................................5
VI. Appendices..........................................................................................................................9
5. 1 List of Interviewees..................................................................................................................9
5.2 List of Question.........................................................................................................................9

Reference list...........................................................................................................................12


I. Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to create a literature review of the theme “Technological
Changes”, stressing its impacts on the lives of workers. This paper will present a qualitative
review based on the data gathered from the interviews of five individuals working in different
industries. Firstly, the report will examine the method of collecting based on the interview
performed. Secondly, the analysis will appraise the link between interviewees' responses and
the eight concepts: work efficiency, work flexibility, work stability, adaptation to technology,
data security and risk, work-life balance, worker's standard of living and health of workers.
Thirdly, it will provide an in-depth discussion of the effects of technology on change in
nature of works, and workers' lives by incorporating journal articles into the analysis. A list of
question and assumptions will also be given to summarise the impacts of technological
changes on each aspect. Ultimately, a conclusion for the effects of technological changes will
be provided, as well as suggestions for future research.

II. Introduction
In today's world, technology has become a fundamental part of almost every business in the
world, in which it plays a fundamental role in enhancing business daily operations and
contributing to business success. The emergence of technology causes alters in the nature of
various jobs and workers’ lives. This report will inspect the effects of change caused by
technology through interviewing six workers who work in different fields: clothing seller,
teacher, Grab driver, banker, and IT marketer to explore the scale of the impact regarding
distinct industries. The analysis will conduct three main assessments including the study

method, findings from the interviews, and analytical research and discussion. Finally, it will
present a conclusion based on the findings, and give advice on limitation areas.

III. The Study Method
3.1 Research
In this research, we chose qualitative research to help us develop a deeper understanding of
the technical changes in the workplace. To be more specific, since we do not have a clear
assessment of the effects on the changes in technology, we, therefore, employed intensive
data collection and analysis methodologies to obtain a broad perspective regarding the
1


common understandings and beliefs about technical changes, and in particular insight into its
current impacts of dignity in the modern-day workplace. Besides that, secondary data, such as
scholarly tools and journals, papers, and analysis firm databases were also used to support the
research.

3.2 Data Collection
Personal interviews were applied as a means of implementing the qualitative research
approach as well as effectively gathering information. According to QuestionPro, personal
interviews can help the researcher in detecting and analysing the interviewee’s body language
when asking questions as well as taking notes about it.
Participants for this research are selected based on several work characteristics and their
workplace has gone through a technical change. Our team interviewed people based on the
same set of questionnaires used in each interview with an average length of about 7 minutes.
The interviews were conducted with a variety of individuals throughout different positions
and organizations between the fourth and fifth of May 2021. Our team has conducted these
interviews using several interview methods including face-to-face, phone, and email. The
roles of the interviewees included Clothing seller, banker, IT worker, Grab driver, teacher,
and Marketer.

However, due to the limited sample size, the result will not accurately reflect the general
perception and experience of workers towards technical changes.

3.3 Data analysis
Our team followed a systemic approach to deliver the questions which encouraged
interviewees to consider their own situations and elaborate about both the positive and
negative ways they have been affected as well as the potential effect they believe to be in
common in the workplace. The issues raised were all related to the theme of technical
changes in the workplace, and the data was analysed to collect conclusive information about
the direct impacts of the changes in technology based on the experiences of individuals in
organizations dealing with such changes.
After completing all the interviews and the responses were compiled, the data were analysed
using a thematic analysis approach. Thematic analysis is a common and efficient method for
analysing qualitative data (Jack Caulfield 2020). This included the examination of data to
clearly identify any trends, themes, common ideas, or patterns in interpretations. After these


key factors have been identified in the data collection, the data can be transferred into reliable
information to draw well-informed conclusions.

3.4 Interviewee’s Characteristics
There were six people who were interviewed in the study, they all have different occupations
but had direct involvement in technical changes. Six interviewees' professional experiences
are examined in this interview.
Interviewee 1 is a 20-year-old individual who graduated from Business and Technology
University and currently working as a clothing seller in Hanoi. Technology also affects her
current job.
Interviewee 2 is a 45-year-old individual who completed a degree in Economics and Finance
and currently working in a bank as a customer service officer. He has gone through technical
changes since he started working in the bank.

Interviewee 3 is a 23-year-old individual who graduated from Hanoi University of Science
and Technology and currently working as an IT worker. He is now facing changes in
technology.
Interviewee 4 is a 42 years old individual who graduated from NEU and currently working as
an Economic lecturer at Thang Long University. Recently, there have been several changes in
technology that affected her way of teaching.
Interviewee 5 is a 30-year-old individual who graduated high school and currently working as
a Grab driver worker in Hanoi. His current job appeared in the changes of technology.
Interviewee 6 is a 42 years old individual who is a Marketer, she is working in the marketing
department of Dr. Shebah, a Korean cosmetic company. Her job depends mostly on
technology.

IV. The Findings
4.1 Work flexibility & Work-life balance
Based on the data collected from the interviews, we identify a number of trends caused by the
implementation of technology in the workplace.
Regarding workplace flexibility, the impacts of technology are controversial, in which, five
out of six interviewees agreed that technology influence positively by allowing working
remotely, and telecommunication, however, many of them complained about not having


flexible working hours. According to Ms. Phuong Nguyen, a teacher stated: “on special
occasions that we are unable to attend physical class, it is flexible to move to online classes”.
The development of such telecommunication platforms like Zoom and Google meetings
enable her to work and communicate remotely. Similarly, Mr. Hai Tran, a banker indicated
that there is “no need of having face to face communication with customers” that he can now
do consultation online. In relation to working hours, Ms. Trang Nguyen, a clothing seller
demonstrated that she “has to work extra hours” due to the rising workload from online sales.
Similarly, Mr. Thien Pham, a marketer stated that he “has to spend extra time at home to
practice new technology”. Conversely, Mr. Manh Tran revealed that working as a Grab driver

gives him the right to “decide my own working hours”, instead of working fixed hours
compared to other jobs. According to participants’ responses, it is recognizable that the
application of technology in the workplace enhances work practice flexibility, yet it does not
satisfy the demand of most workers for having flexible time.

4.2 Health of workers

All of the six interviewees indicated receiving negative impacts on their health as a
consequence of using technology in daily work. In particular, all interviewees demonstrated
to have issue with worsen eyesight, headache, and dizziness after long uses of computer.

4.3 Data security (risk) & Work efficiency
By technological changes, every respondent stated that they have received positive assists in
terms of protecting data and conducting their tasks; easier, faster, and less mistakes. In
particular, teachers can reduce time to prepare their classes and cut down time to write notes
by hand on the board during classes through using PowerPoint, according to Ms. Phuong
Nguyen. In the marketing department, Ms. Choi, Korean cosmetic marketer, stated they can
identify their customers’ insights and behaviours easier and faster than the past by applying
big data. Moreover, both Ms. Trang Nguyen and Mr. Hai Tran responded that they become
more easier to manage their duties by using computers. According to Mr. Manh Tran, he can
easily capture more customers compared with before using the mobile app. However, the
respondents also added that employees can be distracted by utilizing digital devices like
smartphones for personal purposes during their working time. To enhance work productivity,
some respondents showed positiveness about workplace monitoring, and the others claimed


that employees may feel uncomfortable and unhappy about being observed and it can lead to
lower productivity conversely.

4.4 Work stability & Workers’ standard of living

Most interviewees except Mr. Hai Tran showed their feelings that they are not threatened by
artificial intelligence, even though new technologies are consistently developing. However,
all interviewees claimed it is absolutely right that getting a job or receiving promotion is
harder than before. One of the respondents, Ms. Phuong Nguyen claimed we might confront
loss in our monthly income or jobs if we cannot utilize technical skills well. In addition, as
jobs have been replaced by AI and the working environment has been managed by programs,
not humans, we become harder to keep our positions in companies according to Ms. Choi. To
enhance or maintain their jobs and income, they said we need to have ardour and open minds
about adapting to changing technologies, regardless of professions.

4.5 Adaptation to technology
The need for technical changes has risen in recent years because of globalization and new job
standards. Many alternative platforms are provided for individuals to keep updated and
upgrade their technical knowledge and skills as defined by all interviewees. Apart from
individuals looking for external platforms to learn new and relevant technical skills, many
companies provide training as well. This is the reason why our interviews were conducted
with workers who are currently practicing and working in the changes of technology and they
are all motivated to adapt technology in their workplace. Besides that, these workers are all
willing to try new things and learn for self-satisfaction or to future-proof their skills and
knowledge. One of the interviewees, Mr. Hai, who works as a service customer officer in a
local bank, stated that his company does provide training for all the employees to adapt to
new technology. As a result, it can be seen that the industry being prepared in facing the
technology changes, ensures that sufficient training is provided for staff.

V. Discussion
The rapid technological changes had brought a major impact on how contemporary
businesses operate. Regardless of the form of technology, its introduction into the workplace
has unquestionably altered the nature of work (Haddad 2002). It enables organizations to

survive and gain competitive advantages in contemporary business. However, as technical
advancements accelerate, so does the demand for employees' adaptation. Thus, technology is
becoming a crucial factor in influencing employees’ work-life balance (Nam 2013).
Companies are recognizing this matter and supplying staff with training workshops as well as
allowing them to arrange job flexibility according to their needs.

Even while some certain jobs are rendered obsolete as a result of new technologies, new jobs
are still generated with new possible income. As machines are supposed to automate labourintensive works, jobs for data miners, data analysts, and data managers will be generated
(West 2015). From McKinney's Paris office study in 2011, although the internet had killed
500,000 jobs in France within the past 15 years, it had also generated 1.2 million more,
meaning 2.4 new jobs created for every job lost (Manyika 2017). According to our Grab
interviewee, Mr. Manh Tran said that technology has changed the traditional drivers to
modern and effective ones by using mobile apps. With the new technology, more jobs and
potential income are generated and attract thousands of new drivers in this market. For
instance, Grab currently dominates the ride-hailing space with about 190,000 drivers and
75% of the market share (Le 2020).

Advances in communication technologies have enabled each organizational department to
easily communicate through the utilization of smartphones, email, and video conference
applications for timesaving and work efficiency. Thanks to these new technological
inventions, organizations can build and use effective virtual teams rather than traditional
teamwork in the workplace. As company colleagues from various continents can form
without having physical meetings, time and travel expenses can be saved. Thus, they can
meet electronically and disband at the organization's request (Pilis & Furumo 2007).
Additionally, as most of our interviewees highlighted their need for work flexibility, it
emphasizes that working virtually is beneficial to improve employees’ productivity, higher
job satisfaction, and brings healthier their work-life balance (Peoples 2021).

As a result of recent technical advancements, data has become a deluge in current
business (Zhang, 2018) Big data is frequently unstructured, necessitating real-time analysis.

Big data can explicitly endanger user privacy and data protection if it is not well secured for
user data in the course of use. (Hawkins et al. 2000) Thus, there is a rising demand for data
analyst jobs so organizations can follow the current trends. With the advancement of


technologies, data analysis and security have become easier to manage than before. For
example, Cloud computing can be used as the storage layer for big data systems to satisfy
those infrastructure needs including cost-effectiveness, elasticity, and the ability to scale up
and down ( Hawkins et al. 2000). The majority of our interviewees agree that it is a lot easier
to monitor data using technologies, Ms, Trang Nguyen, a clothing seller, stated that replacing
handwriting invoices with the invoice on the computer had made her job a lot more
convenient and time-saving. In short, our findings back up previous research that shows how
advanced technologies make data processing simpler.

Employers can easily track their workers' actions at work thanks to modern technology. In
addition to video cameras and telephone tapping devices, computers are also used to monitor
transaction entries, intercept electronic mail (e-mail), and record keystrokes and customer
service operations (Oz et al, 1999). Thus, organizations can cut down the cost of hiring
security personnel and excessive managers. Moreover, employers argue that electronic
surveillance ensures efficient use of time, prompt and courteous customer service, and the
avoidance of illegal activity (Oz et al, 1999). Chalykoff and Kochan concluded their research
that while the detrimental consequences of monitoring are inherent for some workers, they
can be mitigated for others by paying attention to feedback and performance assessment
processes. (Chalykoff & Kochan, 1989) The majority of our interviewees agree that
workplace monitoring is necessary because it could increase productivity with feedback from
their managers. In general, our findings align with the research of Chalykoff and Kochan that
employees may not necessarily view electronic monitoring negatively.

Along with the positive impact, there are drawbacks to technological advancement. For
example, because of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), some people can

work more during their time due to technical convenience and are not hesitant to handle
affairs from the office, while others prefer a strict distinction between their private and public
lives and see such infiltration as harmful to their personal lives (Nam 2013). Some of our
interviewees stated that they prefer fixed working hours rather than the requirement to work
in their time. In addition, there is a growing need for a deeper understanding of information,
technology, and work. Turbulent shifts in the modern workplace put a lot of pressure on
information workers to keep learning and adapting to the changing technology in which they
work. (Cairns and Malloch, 2011, Littlejohn et al., 2012). A majority of our interviewees
mentioned that they were pressured to adapt to technology and required to learn information


technology (IT) as a basic skill. Because of the pressure, they have to learn technical
knowledge and skills in their personal time. There are many tools available to workers in
today's technical environment, but improper use of those tools will also divert attention away
from the most critical tasks (Dance, 2013). Our findings demonstrate that employees may be
distracted from their jobs by digital devices such as smartphones and computers to do
personal tasks, resulting in a loss of focus and lower productivity. Furthermore, our
interviewees also raise awareness of health problems such as eye strain, irritation, burning
sensation, and blurred vision by utilizing tech-related machines. Study findings indicated the
high intensity of asthenopia and burnout rate among high-tech workers (Ostrovsky et al.
2012). Thus, technologies leave a significant impact on workers' health and well-being.

Companies are responsible for the relevance and competence of their workers, as well as
being socially responsible for their advancement. Thus, any company should recognize skill
and career development as a fundamental component for improving their employees'
technical skills. (Mcgreevy 2003). Not only enhances the organization’s competitiveness, but
worker training also facilitates the updating of skills, fosters their sense of belonging and
benefit, higher job satisfaction as well as motivates employee commitment within the
organization (Acton & Golden 2003). Conclusively, these job-related training and career
development intended to help employees to enable their skills and competencies, allowing

them to be modernized while remaining relevant to the changing context of work and the
labour market (Akkermans et al. 2013).


VI. Appendices
5. 1 List of Interviewees
1.

Clothing sellers – Nguyen Thu Trang

2.

Bank workers

3.

Teachers

4.

Grab drivers

5.

IT workers

6.

Marketers

5.2 List of Question
Main Assumption: Technological changes impact both positively and negatively the life
of workers.
Questions to all interviewees

Sub-assumption

1. What is your new job role, and how long have you been employed there?
2. Could you explain what your work implies?
3. How satisfied are you with your new job?
4. Did your professional and personal lives ever

Work-life balance

collide?

Positive impacts on workers’ lives

5. Have there been any improvements or variations

Work efficiency

in the career since you first initiated? Could you

Positive impacts on nature of work

offer a more detailed description?
6. What strategies did you use to deal with the

Adaptation to technology

changes? Have you benefited from your company's

Positive impacts on nature of work

assistance? Or did you make your own adaptations?
7. What effect did these technological advancements

Work efficiency

have on you, your co-workers, and the company's Positive impacts on nature of work
everyday operations? Is it better to be positive or
negative?
8. Why do people nowadays demand for more

Work flexibility

flexible working hours than in the past? Are you one

Positive impacts on nature of work


of those individuals?

(link) Work-life balance
Positive impacts on workers’ lives

9. Does your employer give you the option of

Work flexibility

working flexible hours or does it have fixed hours?

Positive impacts on nature of work

What are your thoughts on the rules of your
workplace?
10. Does technology help you secure data more

Data security & risk

effectively? Have you ever had a problem with data

Positive & negative impacts on

protection?

nature of work
Work stability

11. What are your views on incorporating more

Negative impacts on nature of work

artificial intelligence into the company's everyday

(link) Standard of living

operations? Is it making you feel threatened or not?

Negative impacts on workers’ lives

12. How do you feel about getting a job or being

Work stability

promoted to a higher level in a company? Is it

Negative impacts on nature of work

simpler or more difficult than in the past?

(link) Standard of living
Negative impacts on workers’ lives

13. Is technology an important part of your job?

Work efficiency

What do you mean by that?

Positive impacts on nature of work
Work flexibility
Positive impacts on nature of work

14. In today's industry, what skills do you believe

Work stability

are valuable or necessary?

15. Do the company's tech-related workers’ pay

Workers’ standard of living

more than others? Why do you think it is?

Positive & negative impacts on
workers’ lives (equality)

16. In line with the technological advancements,

Adaptation to technology

how do you plan to maintain your place in your

Positive impacts on nature of work

business in the future?

(link) Work stability
Negative impacts workers’ lives if


unable to adapt.
17. Do you accept or oppose emerging technology Adaptation to technology
as it is introduced? What motivates you to do so?
18. What can you do to keep up with technology Adaptation to technology
and have a greater understanding of it?

Positive impacts on nature of work

19. Have you had any issues with technology when Adaptation to technology
you've had to use it? If so, what was the problem
and how did you fix it?

Risk of data security
Negative impacts on nature of work

20. Have you ever felt like your health was slipping Health of workers
away from you? Will you explain why you feel that

Negative impacts on workers’ lives

way?

21. Do you believe that the introduction of Standard of living
technology has a positive effect on your way of life (payment) positive and negative
or not?

impacts on workers’ lives

22. Do you believe it is appropriate for managers to

Work efficiency

monitor their workers on a daily basis in order to positive and negative impacts on
increase productivity, or do you believe there are

nature of work

other factors at play?
23. Do you believe that using digital technologies

Work efficiency

such as smartphones and computers for personal Negative impact on nature of work
uses will cause workers to become distracted from
their work? What is the reason for this?


VII. Conclusion
The dynamics of our lives are shifting as a result of technological advancements. We used to
be very physically involved, but now we focus on technology to do the majority of our jobs.
Changes in our behavioural habits and adaptations brought about by technological
advancements may prove to be the primary driving forces behind our species' next stage of
evolution. It's simple to see how technical progress and creativity becomes a double-edged
sword. On the one side, the Internet has resulted in the rise of social media, allowing users to
express themselves and communicate with their loved ones in a simple and easy format. On
either contrary, it has resulted in a slew of issues such as depression, deterioration in coping
abilities, inability to concentrate, and health issues such as anxiety and disorientation.

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