Organizations are a changing: A Brief History of Various Events and their Related Organizational Changes
By bolter
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Microsoft Office
In 1990, the work processing suit of Microsoft office was released. This increased the efficiency and productivity of the modern organization. In my experience this can be seen in higher education through administrators being able to track projects and records at the click of the button. In Law enforcement, this reduced the time spend on reports and increased the time the officers were out among the public. -
Americans with Disability Act
The Americans with Disability Act [ADA] made it illegal to discriminate against a qualified employee or candidate based on a disability. Reasonable accommodations are required for the employee, including : (a) additional breaks, (b) job restructuring, (c) modifying work schedule or (d) acquiring/modifying equipment. This has benefited organizations because it helps to increase the number of qualified applicants and employees. -
E-payments occurred
Millicent was founded in 1995. This company was one of the main players in the emerging e-payment market. In the beginning a majority of the companies used micro-payment (e.g., digital cash, tokens). This has effected organizations by decreasing the time to payment from customers. -
Creation of Instant Messaging
Mirabilis launched the software ICQ. This messaging system: (a) allows party chats, (b) file transfers, and (c) a searchable user directory. This software allows individuals across organizations, internally and externally, to communicate without leaving their computer. This increases the ability of the employee to maintain access to needed data, and if there are time limits to work on completing projects. -
No Cost email services were launched.
Email has caused two major changes to organizations. Firstly, email allows broader work teams. When employees across divisions are working on the same project, they are able to communicate through email as virtual work groups. Second, email allows for timely communications to occur. A leader can update their team instantly, and if a fast response is not need, the responded can reply when their time allows. -
Cloud Computing
With the significant increase in bandwidth offered in the 1990s, Sales Force launched cloud computing. They spearheaded the idea to deliver applications through one website. This has affected organizations by increasing productivity. In the applications being run through the internet, employees are able to access the applications any where. -
ArcGIS was founded
ArcGIS allows the user to create maps and perform spatial data analysis. It allows organizations to examine potential expansion areas and service areas for feasibility. If an event occurs it allows the organization examine the potential impact to business. Organizations are also able to analyze the structure of high service areas to see if there is anything generalization. -
Flashdrive
The commercial release of flash drives in 2000 has resulted in two changes to organizations. First flash drives allow the sharing of files easily between computers. Projects or presentations can easily be shared with partners or customers. Second, flash drives store more files compared to floppy disks. This reduces the physical space needed to store files. The storage size provides an incentive to use branded flash drives to give potential customers name recognition and an usable tchotchke. -
Enron Scandal
Enron, an energy company, and Arthur Andersen, one of the top five auditing and accounting companies declared bankruptcy. The subsequent investigation revealed unethical practices hiding billions in debt from stockholders and consumers. One of the results of this scandal was consumers requiring more accountability from the companies they do business with. -
Social Networks
The creation of professional social networking sites like Linkedin has allowed several changes in organizations. First, it facilitates the healthy exchange of ideas. Second, allows employees of different companies to share best practices. Finally, social networks allow employees of the same company to work on projects or share information quasi securely. -
Skype was invented
In 2003, Skype allows people across the world to communicate and work together. For organizations, this means experts in fields can be consulted at little or no cost. Organizations are also able to recruit personnel from farther away at little cost. For instance, in higher education doctorate programs can interview potential students no matter where they are. In law enforcement mutual aid agreements can be created, and those members can be included in training. -
Tableau was founded
The tableau software allows consumers to easily visualize data trends of their organizations. Organizations are able to link their data in a variety of forms to the software and build various charts. This provides organisations the ability to easily visualize certain trends, like highest vs lowest sales areas. Organizations can also develop different charts and presentations in the tool. Over all this tool helps to increase data transparency and accountability with consumers. -
Youtube was founded
The founding of YouTube has facilitated the sharing of information. YouTube is a sharing platform for videos. This allows employees to learn different skills without having to pay for training. On YouTube different skills are taught by everyone from experts in the field to someone at the skill level of the employee. YouTube also provides branding opportunity for the organizations to get their products advertised. -
Android Versus Iphones
In 2007, Apple released the first iphone model, and Microsoft released the first Android phone. These 'smart' phones allow for employees to experience 24/7 connectivity to work. the phones increase the connectivity through: (a) phone, (b) email, (c) text. If an expert employee is away from the office, they can still be contacted if a problem arises. -
Global recession started
The start of the global recession had major impacts on organizations. First, organization had to layoff some employees which resulted in higher unemployment rates. This also resulted in a higher enrollment rate at institutions of higher education. Second, the interest rates increased which resulted in lower borrowing power. Organizations had to start working with less to produce more. -
Trolley Square Shooting, Salt Lake City, UT
During the shooting, the shooter murder five people, before an off duty police officer cornered the perpetrator. This event, while not unique, resulted in the push to train individuals on how to respond to the events. Law enforcement changed the response to the first four officers responding enter the event. In other organizations the training focused on how to escape without impeding responding officers. The training also increase the strengths of organizational partnerships. -
Global Recession ended
This recession resulted in: (a) lower birth rates, (b) decreased in college educated work force, (c) decreased trust in the government, (d) increased time to retirement, and (e) decreased interest rates and increased organizational borrowing. This has resulted in higher organizational accountability and strategic spending. Potential employees are not pursing higher education due to better job prospects. -
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care act requires organizations to provide health care for their employees. The organizations are now having to budget for medical care for their employees. The employees have insurance to cover any medical issues they may have. Employees do not have the added stress of finding medical insurance if they have a preexisting condition. -
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was established by Senator Elizabeth Warren through the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This independent agency: (a) writes and enforces rules for financial institutions, (b) examines financial institutions, (c) monitors and reports on the market, and (d) collect and track consumer complaints. This agency monitors organizations for illegal financial practices, and enforce laws linked to consumer protection. -
Amazon Redshift released
Amazon Redshift is a data warehouse service from Amazon Web Services. This product provided organizations with low cost storage for their expanding data. This product allows organizations to rent computers to store data and pull certain data points quickly. In the past organizations had to find the hard copy dot matrix print out and then compile the data. This would take time and had a higher cost in personnel time. -
Las Vegas Shooting
On October 1, 2017 an active shooter murdered 58 people, and injured 500. The effect of this event on organizations has not fully been seen. It has shown organizations have worked to be the helpers. It also has demonstrated the need for organizations to know how to respond to tragedy.
