Question

Organization Theory and Design : An International Perspective

a. Define the concept of technological change. List the types of technological change and
describe their characteristics. (15 marks)
b. Discuss how technological change can be pursued by adopting an ambidextrous approach
and refer specifically to the structural arrangements that an organisation can use

Answer 1

answer-

a- a. Define the concept of technological change. List the types of technological change and describe their characteristics -

Technological change means the technical knowledge used in the production of capital and machinery. The various changes in technology leads to an increase in the productivity of labour, capital and other production factors. Technological progress comprises of creation of skill, new means of production, new uses of raw materials and the widespread use of machinery.

The technology is the most powerful means of wresting power from nature in all possible ways. It strengthens the facilities of man. Prof. Frankel assumes that the, “Technological change is not a mere improvement in the technical know-how. It means much more than this. It should be preceded by sociological change also, a willingness and desire on the part of community to modify their social, political and administrative institutions so as to make them fit with new techniques of production and faster tempo of economic activity.” Technology, according to J. P. Dewhurts, in fact, can be thought of as the change in the production process of material and human skills.

The telephone is an example of a product that has undergone a technological change. It has undergone many different changes over the years that have made it more efficient. Processes or products, such as the telephone, move through technological change in three stages:

• Invention - the creation of a new product or process
• Innovation - the application of the invention for the first time
• Diffusion - how fast others begin to adopt the innovation

Semi- Radical Technology

This kind of technology typically relies on the existing knowledge about technology. However, it uses knowledge in such ways that it differs importantly into the past. Cellphones were considered before as mobile telephones but it works in another way around these days. It I now for personal communication that has built-in desks for work and systems specifically made for entertainment purposes. Semi Radical is being represented by cell phones and these are what mostly people wants to have in their everyday life.

Disruptive

This type of technology is known as Disruptive as it breaks the traditional ones and this now provide new products and technologies that are more accessible. It is also being considered as disruptive as it pushes the idea about existing businesses and supply chains. For example, digital photography is best because it minimizes traditional films and cameras as well as the e-readers that can make the print media irrelevant.

Incremental

Incremental technologies are small but have valued improvements for a product and methods. It has a later version of word processing program which allows every user to make new documents types with more effective tools serves as the best example for improving the modern technology.

These three types of innovative technologies are really advantageous in the marketing platform. Even small business can also give advantages of using these things. Here are the following benefits of the innovation of technologies tend to provide:

• Speed up any Work – a lot of technologies are helpful in making every work fast. From household task too office works, gadgets helps to increase work speed and production.
• High Profit –the innovation of technologies tend to provide higher profits for every users. It may either be a huge or small business. It helps to increase efficiency of work in return of this, and higher productivity is the result.
• Quick information access – accessing of information is very quick because of innovation technology. While technology becomes more popular, sending and processing information is easier than before.
• Developing Communication – unlike the earlier days, communication is easier these days because of innovation of a technology. Meanwhile, having communication despite distance is not an issue anymore. That makes an innovation of technology amazing and advantageous

Charactersitics of technological change-

Creates new products and processes

When telephones were first invented, the object was to be able to verbally communicate with someone. Due to technological changes, we have multiple ways to communicate using our phones, such as text, email, or talk.

Increases efficiency, lower costs

Technology makes it possible to perform everyday tasks faster and with less energy on our part. For instance, some people have a vacuum cleaning robot. Instead of spending 30 minutes vacuuming, they push a button and go do something else. That's efficiency.

Helps economies evolve

People are able to increase the ways in which they create wealth. It also has a ripple effect. When one technological change occurs, it changes how we live. With the integration of technology, societies evolved from traditional hunting and gathering to industrialized. So that fewer people are growing crops and more are moving into other industries.

Almost every industry, such as aviation, education, or the medical field, have been improved by technological change. Think about how you are learning this very lesson today. How would students have obtained this information 50 years ago?

Decreases self-reliance

As technology changed over time, so too did our role in society. We are less self-reliant today, as we rely more and more on technology than our ancestors did.