The advent of the computer brought humankind into contact with analogue signals that evolved into digital, wireless fidelities and overwhelming information and communication technologies (ICT). Manual processes and procedures erupted into an information administration volcano showering its content in all directions - its likes not being imagined only a few decades ago.
ICT has dramatically changed a fixed world into a virtual environment that has no boundaries and where time, geographical space and comfort acquired a quintessential new meaning and character. During this momentous continuum, individuals globally went about their daily business without really noticing where this phenomenon is taking us. Let us look at a few examples and consider whether we are experiencing a factional or fictional e-Globe.
e-Commerce revolves around e-Mailing information instantly to thousands of recipients at the speed of light anywhere in the world,
ICT changed the capturing, processing, storing, retrieval, presentation and archiving processes phenomenally,
the concrete forest is no longer a prerequisite for doing a job,
travelling to offices twice on a daily basis has become unnecessary,
e-Education, not only in institutions, but also in private and corporate lives, urban and rural environments changed education and training dramatically, with
e-Supervision of post graduates, e-Learning and e-Surveys at the order of the day.
What are the rippling effects of these innovations? It effectively addresses global concerns such as earth warming, over-population, natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, heat waves, pollution, and social dilemmas. ICT as the change agent has the potential to lead to the evolvement of new business processes that can alleviate or solve many of the problems that have been identified. A variety of names is used, such as the fragmented workplace, work anywhere - anytime, bring the work to the worker - not the worker to work, flexi-work, telecommute, telework and virtual offices.
The benefits that can be derived are evident in an e-Globe that operates in cyberspace in virtually every sphere of life and include:
minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, stress levels, vehicle accidents, deaths on roads, disabilities caused by vehicle accidents, vehicle wear and tear, medical and other insurance claims, absenteeism from work due to minor ailments, use of paper products that destroy forests and road building and maintenance. Savings in terms of overheads for employers and companies, empowering the disabled and rural communities, increasing productivity, continuous opportunities for further research, improved balance in work-, family- and social life of individuals, improved health and wellness, child and elderly care, saving time spent on travelling and saving gasoline and scarce resources!
The telework solution needs urgent consideration! Telework has been implemented and refined globally for several decades, but its progress is slow in certain parts of the world mainly ascribed to top echelons that do not fully grasp its potential and may feel that they will lose control. Ironically, this same obstacle has also been solved by ICT developers and global strategists who designed new approaches in the operations and management of virtual workforces.
An e-Globe? Fact!
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