Article Review – Information Technology and The Changing Workplace in Canada

The article, Information Technology and The Changing Workplace in Canada, was written by Saeed Moshiri. The author’s main position which is outlined by the article is “recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have had vivid effects on both individual and workplace performance” (Moshiri, 2009). Throughout the article the author thoroughly investigates ICT as well as the effects that is has on a firm’s productivity using data from a Canadian Workplace Survey from the period of 1999-2003. The author’s stance on the effects of ICT on the workplace is that it has a positive and significant effect on the productivity of firms. The author goes on to say that “Use of computer and the internet as general-purpose technologies has spread rapidly across all sectors of the economy, transforming business organization, increasing competition, and fostering innovation.” (Moshiri, 2009). He talks about the vast widespread of the creation of new technologies in the workplace as well as the use of them to create more productive work methods increasing the total workplace productivity and general employee technological sense. In the article, the author studies the data from various workplace surveys conducted during times of technological advancements and then displays the data to show whether or not the effects of ICT on the workplace have been positive or negative, which in this case it has been positive.
Advances in ICT has transformed businesses and increased competition. Outlining some of the key concepts found in this article, the author stated that “The use of ICT by a firm reduces its production costs, leads to a better utilization of inputs, increases flexibility in inputs and products, improves product quality, and increases productivity and market” (Moshiri, 2009).