March 30, 2014 Introduction

According to Aspray, Mayadas, & Vardi (2006) globalization has resulted in billions of people joining the free-market world, and dozens of countries joining the World Trade Organization. This trend has produced a world where not only goods are globally tradable, but so is labor, which can be sent over a wire rather than physically relocated. Vales (2007) stated that the future may be hard to predict, but may not be hard to prepare for. Insurers are in close encounter with the tough new business, investment and regulatory environments that are emerging from the financial crisis. The article continued to state that the insurance industry however, also faces far broader challenges. Demographic shifts, the rise in power of the emerging markets and changing customer behavior will all help shape the sector’s longer term future. Insurers who can anticipate and plan for change can create their own future. Others who are “fast followers” will need to be agile enough to recognize the leaders and adopt similar strategies. White, (2009) wrote that many factors are contributing to the increasing diversity in the workplace, factors such as the rising numbers of immigrants, mergers or joint ventures with companies in other countries, the rising use of temps and contract workers, and the increasing globalization of business are a few of the forces making the workforce more diverse on a daily basis. White (2009) continue to state that because of this rise in diversity, human resource personnel are scrambling to match benefits with newly diverse employees in order to compete for the best-qualified workers. Aspray et al. (2006) mentioned that computer science and technology have been stunningly successful in forging a global market. Through these tools, the instructional technology industry has created innovations that have driven data and voice communication costs to almost zero; added Web features that provide information to anyone, anywhere, anytime; so that this technology is affordable in developing countries. Aspray et al. (2006) also stated that the importance of the insurance sector, the potential for growth, the rapid emerging trends which includes the trend that leads towards liberalization of insurance services, and the essential to understand clearly the challenges and the opportunities that arise from both the development of the insurance sector as well as its liberalization for developing countries. It was also noted that while the liberalization and globalization of the insurance service can be beneficial, they also have different impacts on developed and developing countries.
Issues of Diversity and Technology According to Hewins-Maroney & Williams (2013), employment skills and personnel are expected to continue to shift during the next ten years in the United States (U.S) This new workforce will be filled with a large number of new entrants, of whom many will lack the professional savvy to negotiate in the active, intergovernmental arenas. Hewins-Maroney et al. (2013) also stated that people of color, immigrants, women, and the disabled will make up the majority of these workers. Hewins-Maronet et al. (2013) went as far as to suggest that with addition to the changing workforce, demographics will yield a sharp increase in the number of workers who are under 25 and those who are over 45 years old. There will also be a decline in the number of workers between these two groups. As stated many of the demographic challenges that are faced in the U.S. workforce are also being faced globally. However, Wojcik (2012) suggested that for diversity programs to be truly effective, the programs should be embedded in the organization's culture and strategy and must be supported by the top leadership. Wojcik (2012) also stated that a major reason for the emergence of diversity as an important reality is changing demographics. In the arena that older workers, women, minorities, and those with more education are now entering the workforce. Wojcik (2012) found that the composition of today’s and tomorrow’s workforce is and will be much different from that of the past. However, Wojcik (2012) also mentioned that women are facing many challenges in the workplace, the attention received are mainly from the media, but the problems facing people of color, older workforce, and others fighting for equal opportunities and inclusion remain significant. As indicated, by Wojcik (2012) legislation going as far back as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination in employment on any basis. It was also mentioned by Hewins-Maroney et al. (2013) that for the past 100 years, the U.S. has prided itself on being a country of diversity. For the United States it was decades before they were able to accept the idea that a diverse population was beneficial to the social and economic fabric of society. However, the realization that diversity facilitates economic, social, and political growth has permeated social thinking along with the acceptance that diversity is an inevitable part of a changing world. Ravipa & Speece (2004) discussed that as this new economic age unfolds, businesses must contend with emerging competitive threats not only from traditional rivals, but from startup companies, and diversifying giants from other industries as well. It was also mentioned that organizations face difficult and complex decisions about which new technologies merit investment, and what becomes of the legacy systems. According to Ansari (2013) the society today is a world of technology, day by day new inventions and discoveries are creating the new era of businesses. New technologies continue to impact ways of working both in and out of the workplace. As technology is constantly evolving, it continues to grow rapidly, also presenting an opportunity for ambitious workers to streamline processes, improve efficiency and enhance communication in the workplace. Ansari (2013) stated that information technology has always been a wild card in business, also a source of opportunity and uncertainty, advantage and risk. The last decade has added considerably to the mystique and magic of information technology. It was noted that during the 1990s something dramatic happened to technology, even though it is too early to note the full impact. However, technology has burst forth from its safe containment in the basement of organization and has become a core enabler and in some cases the primary channel through which the business done. According to Anonymous, (2013) technology has certainly made a tremendous impact on the business world. Technology allows an organization to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in many ways. However, due to advanced technology such as computers, fax machines, and video conferencing, many organizations are implementing telecommuting as an option for their employees. Anonymous, (2013) also mentioned that the use of advance technology is expected to create a significant increase in worker productivity. This will also include other benefits that will include reduced costs, improved recruitment and retention, reduced stress, reduced travel time, and increased job satisfaction.
Impact on the Organization As you look around the office, is everyone just like you? Probably not. The demographics of the American workforce have changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Lindenberger & Stoltz-Loike (2013) discussed about the nation and how it becomes more ethnically and culturally diverse, companies are under pressure with the issue of workforce diversity. Lindenberger et al. (2013) went as far as to discuss that managing diversity is not a new issue faced by companies, but the way it is used or managed has changed. The latest development is to use diversity as a competitive business strategy. It was mentioned that Allstate is one of companies that is culturally diverse and is seeing improved results ranging from better customer satisfaction to increased sales. Puelz (2004) mentioned about change and how it is happening all around, in personal lives, in organizations and the world. The current rate of technological change has created an environment that is incapable of remaining still. and change has become just about the only constant. Puelz (2004) stated that the impact of technology on the insurance industry explores how technological advances and consumer preferences are shaping product design and sales. As stated by Puelz (2004) technology and its effectiveness is a major strategic interest of insurer management at a time when innovation pervades a variety of day-to-day operational activities. To move away from a bricks and mortar office environment to a "virtual office" is an opportunity that presents the possibility of significant cost savings for insurers; however, this also introduces concerns about employee productivity, effective communication, and the value of an office work-setting. According to Vales (2007) the internet was initially used by insurers with customers and prospective customers to promote their brand and provide some general communications. On a regular basis it is used to recruit insurance producers and actually conduct the business of insurance. As mentioned access to the internet using mobile devices is rapidly changing the environment, the insurers are beginning to explore how to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Vales (2007) mentioned that monitoring insurers’ activity in this emerging area is becoming a challenge for insurance regulators. Puelz (2004) went as far as to suggest that the interest in the technological impact on marketing begins with how insurers view the development of a website as a way to market directly to consumers. According to Vales (2007) social networking sites and technologies have enjoyed significant growth in recent years, attracting more people across a wide range of interests. Such sites have changed consumer expectations, as people now generally expect the organizations with which they do business to interact online.
The Impact on my Leadership Style
As a leader in a society of a vast diverse population, I have been in contact with people from different cultures. This has helped me to become more aware of the society that I live in. Working with this diverse population has surely had a positive impact on me. I have learned how to communicate with others even when the language barrier causes problems. I learned the different ways they do things in their country; we exchange ideas of festive seasons, religion, and food and many other things. We learn from each other the different ways that problems can be solved and how the respect of others culture is important. Technology has assisted me to become more fluent in its use, both the tech and also the culture and norms of communication technology. The wonders of technology are all around us. Smart phones, ipads, kindles, email, apps and twitter just to name a few. With the use of these technologies my leadership style has improved and communication is more effective. Technology has added efficiency and effectiveness to my leadership style. This has allowed me to become more effective in what I do and how I lead.
The Impact on the Leadership Styles of Others The world today is a single entity. The borders of nations left no restrictions on how to trade and conduct business. This has made the global products increase more than expected. The other outcome of this globalization is diversity. There could be no better example than the USA which has more people of foreign origin than the natives. The issue of managing a diverse workforce has increased too. Technology again helps leaders to address the problem. One important problem raised to leaders by diversity is managing documents in different languages. Technical solutions like translators, converters are now helping leaders to communicate with the employee in their native languages. With the use of these technologies, leaders can communicate properly with employees of other ethnic origin. Technology has added efficiency and effectiveness to my leadership style. This has allowed me to become more effective in what I do and how I lead.
Conclusion
Greenwald (1994) wrote that history has shown that newcomers lose many of their differences from the mainstream as time passes. However today's immigrants to the United States and migrants from rural to urban places may be slower to shed tradition. It cannot be assumed that America's diverse peoples will someday look, talk, and think identically. It should be hoped that the U.S. remain a society of many distinct cultures and private persuasions. In the workplace, the principle of distinct culture makes managers responsible for preventing culture and language from standing in the way of anyone's success. As the future approaches, organizations must first acknowledge that a great deal of diversity exists among people who are labeled "diverse." According to Ravipa et al. (2004) in this competitive marketplace that is constantly increasing, information technology (IT) is now frequently being employed as a distribution channel and medium of interaction among the workers. The organizations that do not learn and adapt to changing technology will face painful competition. Organizations that implement the use of some technology may reduce interaction across the employee - customer interface. Ravipa et al. (2004) stated that customer satisfaction in many workplaces depends strongly on the service that is encountered. It was also note that for technology to enhance competitiveness, it must deliver real value to customers in the service interaction, and customers must like it. Thus, the impact of technology on customer satisfaction is critical and must be in the interest of the customers. Globalization complicates things because culture may well influence responses to technology. Technological advances like the internet, social media and mobile technology have had a profound impact on what makes a good leader compared to a generation ago. This is not an obvious connection that many make. But, it is there nonetheless, and the most effective leaders know how to make this work to their advantage.

References
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