Had a conversation over dinner last night about resistance to change as it relates to new technologies, and while we were quick to applaud the renegade early adopters who camp out in tents peppered with Taco Bell wrappers for the latest gadget hot off the Best Buy shelves, the truth remains that most people are quite content doing what they were doing and uninspired to change with the times — unless, of course, the times come in a really cool new color.
When new technologies are introduced to employees in a work setting, they are often resistant. One reason is that such technologies, particularly on a large scale (e.g., in manufacturing operations), typically boast efficiency and productivity gains that precipitate downsizing, thereby posing a threat to job security. That’s fairly obvious, I know, and probably pre-dates even Henry Ford. But the hidden underbelly of this is that many of us feel we’re doing what is necessary and required already, and when a new technology is introduced into the workplace this typically requires some education/training on how to use it, which in turn exceeds the amount of time and effort we’ve become comfortable giving to The Job.
Further, some new communications technologies, including wi-fi Internet available for laptops and recently smartphones (have I three-cheered the iPhone enough yet?), have arrived with a double-edged sword. They enable greater flexibility, yes, and certainly more mobility, both of which are positive features. But these also disallow some times when we might otherwise take a break from work.
As a case
example, several years ago we were brought in to consult Boeing on how to market its fledgling Connexion in-flight wi-fi access (which, notably, cost about $500k per plane to integrate the Ku-band antenna). In our topsoil research, it was interesting to find some resistance from business travelers who we initially thought would jump through Ringling Brothers’ flaming hoops for the service. As it turned out, many of them didn’t want that access, as it would in turn make them accessible. They viewed that time in the air as a break from the action, a bubble in which they were untouchable by their boss (and, I suppose, certain nerve-grating co-workers) and could watch a movie or sleep while technically “at work.”
Alas, on December 31, 2006, Boeing fessed up that it had indeed missed its Connexion and said night-night to wi-fi in the sky. But I have to think that it will be commonplace eventually. In the meantime, I’ll just be happy to pocket that $29.95 and catch a few z’s myself….
Posted by: Colin Mangham