Currently, new technologies are increasingly present in companies. These new Information and Communication Technologies (NTIC), which are widely present within companies, can be presented in various forms, like physical (smartphones, tablets, computers) or dematerialized (internet, intranet, ERP, traceability tools, etc.).
Today, what is the impact of ICT in business management? The integration of ICT into companies has been gradual, beginning in the 1970s with the arrival on the market of microcomputers that will be adopted very quickly and will radically change the organization of work in many companies.
In the 1990s, the second change in habits was born with the advent of the Internet, which greatly improved the way of working, regardless of the sector of activity.
This is the case for example with e-mail (or e-mail) which has allowed companies to reduce their communication costs, but also to contact interlocutors on the other side of the world without the constraints of sending mail or a phone call with the problem of jet lag.
ICT is always at the heart of change within companies, especially with regard to the work of the manager. It should be noted that management contributes strongly to the good efficiency of an organization: in fact, the results of a company are often linked to the management style put in place.
Today, different elements emanating from ICT allow companies to increase their efficiency in terms of management, for example by the use of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) tools that facilitate the management of either accounting or HR.
Indeed, their main advantages are to homogenize the information and group it into a single centralized file, which allows productivity assistance by having centralized control of the company and which, therefore, contributes to quick decision-making.
Through various studies, we found that there were other advantages to integrating ICT as management development tools. The internet is at the heart of ICT and connects workstations between employees remotely, this strengthens their “mobility”: have resulted in more collective work.
THE NTTs materialize the relationship of trust between the company and the employees, they allow for a strengthened control of work and facilitate the flow of information. In this way, the company can develop the autonomy of employees and thus make them accountable.
These technologies make working methods more fluid and more flexible, which is why ICTs are widely used in the public and private sectors, especially through social networks. Many companies pre-form their marketing via these free platforms: by this, they see a strong financial advantage.
These platforms allow us to know consumption habits and understand the choice of customers, not to mention that through social networks, Internet users are players at the heart of business promotion.
In recent years in France, many companies are involved in the integration of ICT into everyday life. We will see that opinions are diverse in the face of these new technologies.
ICT as a Source of Stress
The opinion of the French points out that virtual contact dehumanizes labor relations: 75% of managers consider the solicitations related to ICT as one of the 3 main sources of stress, 90% say they are anxious and demoralized. However, 95% of those who disconnect for the 1-month report being less anxious and enjoying the time with their loved ones.
ICT is an interactive communication tool that can create some pressure on employees by forcing them to respond in real-time with an emergency character: 55% of French people are anxious to disconnect because of the emails to be dealt with after disconnection, and 60% of French people consult their e-mails in bed in the evening and/or morning when they wake up.
However, 80% of respondents still recognize the harmful effects of this addiction that impairs sleep and family balance.
In order for ICT to be seen as a competitive advantage in the development of management techniques, the company must do everything possible to ensure that employees are at the heart of this change. This makes it essential to consult them so that the tools are in line with their needs. In addition, it allows business managers to support them in change and train them in the use of ICT which will allow better integration.