I remember
back then to have an internet in the office it was an issue, organizations used
to spend a lot of money to implement ICT infrastructures. By back then I meant
less than 10 years ago, remember when Nokia 3310 used to be the most expensive
phone in town you could ever own. Few years from then there are thousands of
smart phones in streets and some at very affordable prices, even a young
college or high school student can own a Samsung Galaxy or Apple’s smart
phones.
I remember
chatting with my old boss at Tanzania Ports Authority about the seminar that
senior official of the port received, on efficient usage of the Blackberry
smart phones to send and receive emails, organizing and planning meetings. He
said “there is no way I can escape this, 20 years experience of working with
the port, today I have to learn how to use a phone to run my department”. That
is the power of technology, no matter what educational background you have,
experience you posses or even skills you have you can’t escape the trap of
technology.
It has been
a challenge to a lot of people when their organizations migrate from old manual
systems to technology based systems. Most of them felt to be left behind and
even some of them believe technology is the tool to exploit them and taking
their positions in the organization, which to some extent and some situations
appear to be true but not all the time.
The questions remain what should I do when my company or organization is
taking it to the next level technology wise. I remember this question was asked
during the Nokia developer’s forum Bangalore 2009 and the answer from the
speaker was “just get into the train and ride with them”.
Few things
that should be clear to you, first, everyone will be trying to adopt the
systems the best thing you can do is collaborative learning and knowledge
sharing. Be yourself and be free to ask questions and get to know the system.
Never pretend you know the system, even if you know it you should always be
careful with the way you present it to others and working with them. That is
the first rule of the organizational politics, wither you know it or you don’t
know it always depend with whom you are working with, especially bosses they
always love to be in control. In some situations and some bosses and co-workers
who entertain the “Win-Win” situation they will be happy to see an officemate
who knows the system already and they will open the door for you to teach them
and learn while others won’t.
Second thing
you should understand is that, there is always a solution for your technology
related problem available online, that is why internet exists. I have done this
so many times in job interviews, I read the job description and if I find
something that I don’t understand I just Google it and get the fast track
information about it and in few days I become an expert. Once you hear new
technology is coming to your office or organizations make sure you search
online for the possible details about the system. Most of the time lot of
resources, materials and even sometimes video tutorials available online. Most
of these resources can help you to adopt the new system before others or even
before the company decides to hire the trainer to teach you.
Third, if
you are the boss this is the time you do two things, first to work so hard to
understand the system so that you can be able to help your subordinates to
migrate to the new system while understanding who is in charge and second to
learn about your employees capabilities and abilities to adopt and practice new
ways of doing work. When the new challenge emerges is when you realize people’s
potentials. Always entertain innovation and creativity at your workplace is the
biggest secret to improve efficiency and productivity. The biggest mistake most
of the bosses do is to be afraid of the new systems. They always feel new
systems make them to be left behind and undermine their potentials. Leave no
room for your subordinates to realize you are afraid to adapt to the new system
this will make you look weak in front of them, something you don’t want to do.
If you are
just a normal employee at your organization this is an opportunity you have
been waiting for. I can’t tell you how many people I know personally that have
been hired or promoted since they know something that others can’t do or use.
Don’t accept defeat before entering in the ring. Try to see if what is about to
be introduced is something that you can hustle to learn and put into practice.
One shut is only you have to prove yourself and the opportunities they don’t
come that much frequently. It could take an organization another 10 to 15 years
to move to a new technology or new way of doing things.
No, I can’t,
it won’t work and other answers like this are totally not accepted when you are
trying to adopt the new system. The best answer you should provide when you are
asked to work with the new system is that, I will try my level best, am working
on it, I will adopt and so on. Organizations and companies want people to
deliver, if you can’t deliver why should they keep you in their organization?
Instead of just replacing you, wise man once told me in this world people they
don’t care on what you have or who you are as long as you can deliver something
they want in time. Now take your time and ask yourself if you are ready to get
into the train and ride with them to the new era of running your organization.
Jumanne Mtambalike
jumanne@tanzict.or.tz
jumanne@tanzict.or.tz