Unit 9-LA 2
Unit 9 Learning Activities
Leadership is a group process; leaders can wield considerable influence over their followers by defining, crafting, and maintaining a social identity for their group. Leaders can also influence their followers by providing direction, innovation, and transformation during times of uncertainty and change, both of which are fruitful in the modern world (Rast, 2015, p.133). Then, What drives accelerating change?
Accelerating change phenomenon (Foresight University, 2017), is one of the most future-important, pervasive, and puzzling features of our universe. Its a perceived increase in the rate of technological change throughout the past and may suggest faster and more profound change into the future. Now a day, these changes impacted the environment, economy, social, and governance. “The things that are changing the fastest are “technology, communications and computing technologies” (Smart, 2015). Accordingly, we all experiencing this acceleration in our respective field, and leaders challenge is what type of computer, communication, devices, platforms, networks, databases, and other patterns of technology will add value to their team. Regarding, “employees, also, can engage in scanning the external boundaries of their organization to report on emerging environmental event, identifying an alternative policy or program possibilities for the organization, and assisting management with developing actions and measures to address the perceived need for adaptation” (Malgari, 2010, p. 39).
In the medical field where I belong to, information technology has made significant contributions to our world, With the increased use of electronic medical records (EMR), telehealth services, and mobile technologies like tablets and smartphones, physicians and patients are both seeing the benefits that these new medical technologies are bringing. Integrating a new innovative technology with minimally invasive procedures or surgeries where robotic surgeries in some cases, now a day, has less time in recovery, less stress of health related-travel, and more time enjoying the healthy life. Streamlined lab testing, through micro processing samples of blood, through Point of Care Testing and satellite lab, which in regard will have a positive impact on reducing the cost, turn around time, and have better patient experience in relation. A central and standardized system throughout the entire healthcare industry can identify a viral or bacterial infection quickly. This medium can give insights into how widespread an outbreak is, enabling preventative measures to be put in place much more rapidly (AIMS, 2015). Additionally, it’s not limited to healthcare; furthermore, Technology facilitates meetings and virtual classes for leaders and employees in organizations to be able to meet with others through teleconferences, Skype -conference calls. These technologies play an essential role in every industry as well as personal lives.
Considering Walmart as one of the various organizations who use technology as a strategy when they operate their businesses (Smoak, 2016), the company was “pioneer in barcode scanning and analyzing point of sale information which housed in its massive data warehouses. Wal-Mart launched its own satellite network in the mid-1980’s which led to profound business practice impacts concerning its supply chain management process.” On the other hand, Wal-Mart consumers preferences shifted away from the “big-box” mortar store to the convenience of online “e-tail” (Smoak, 206). Therefore, to increase their capacity to compete effectively, they invested in digital technology to become better aligned with their consumer shopping preferences (Smoak, 2016).
Wal-Mart information technology strategy has long favored an internal “build rather buy” approach which creates a new venue for an innovative strategy to arrive. Walmart’s new robots (MIT Technology Review, 2018)- Bossa Nova- can perform tasks such as identifying when items are out of stock, locating incorrect prices, and detecting wrong or missing labels. The impact of this technology is the “employee instantly become the advocates of the robot” (MIT Technology Review, 2018). However, the shoppers didn’t welcome the interacting with a robot in their retail store, therefore, adapting to the change at Walmart stores when introducing the ROBOT, help their customers to adopt the change. This medium strongly connects with Jack Ma’s (2016) core values and culture when he considers “customers are number one, employees are number two, and shareholder are number three.” As far as I see, that transformational servant leadership approach demonstrated in Walmart, and Alibaba businesses have a positive impact when it links with business. “Wal-Mart was a pioneer in applying information and communications technology to support decision making and promote efficiency and customer responsiveness within each of its business functions and between functions” (Ustundag, 2013; as cited in Smoak, 2016).
When Wal-Mart is looking to develop new systems, it dispatches its top engineers to perform “regular” operations jobs so they can gain working hand knowledge of the challenges that line employees face (Boyer, 2003; as cited in Smoak, 2016). “repeatable, predictable and manual” tasks are tomorrow’s non-repeatable, unpredictable and automated tasks (Smoak, 2016). Business is knowing your social responsibility, is a “long-term which take time to build,” believe in your dreams, and work hard (Jack Ma, 2016). It’s a learned lesson from Transformational servant leadership approach and the positive impact on the healthcare system and business.
leaders cannot avoid leading in times of uncertainty. “These uncertainties can range from leading through challenges and opportunities to leading for innovation and creativity to coping with an ever-changing industry such as technology or stocks (Rast, 2015, p.141). In relation, Rast (2015) noted, “uncertainty can overturn the traditional ‘think leader, think male’ preference” into “think crisis, think female” as it was asserted by Rayan et al. (2011; as cited in Rast, 2015, p.142). Furthermore, “uncertainty can promote the selection of women and minorities into leadership positions,” and in real business life as indicated in Jack Ma speech (2016), “Business is team equity” and the success that he achieved in his business regarded to women. In times of uncertainty (Rast, 2015), such as when an organization is performing poorly, women and minorities are likely to be cast into leadership positions.
References:
American Institute of Medical Science & Education (2015, April). The impact of technology on healthcare. Retrieved from: https://www.aimseducation.edu/blog/the-impact-of-technology-on-healthcare/
Foresight University (2017, n.d). Acceleration: Guiding Our Extraordinary Future. Retrieved from: http://www.foresightguide.com/universal-accelerating-change/
Healthcare Business & Technology (2016, n.d). Medical Technology. Retrieved from: http://www.healthcarebusinesstech.com/medical-technology/
John Smart. (2015, April 8). Leadership of tech change-WFS 2013 [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhdWqLNUJns
Keys to Success from Jack Ma. (2016, Jun 23). Self-Made Billionaire and CEO of Alibaba. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WjHZ5wLe6w
Malgeri, J. (2010). Organizational foresight and stewardship.Public Manager,39(4), 39. Order through [interlibrary loan](http://www8.twu.ca/library/libreq.htm).
MIT Technology Review (2018, January). Business Impact-Walmart’s new robots are loved by the staff- and ignored by a customer. Retrieved from: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609997/the-robots-patrolling-walmarts-aisles/
Rast, D. E. (2015). Leadership In Times Of Uncertainty: Recent Findings, Debates, And Potential Future Research Directions. Social And Personality Psychology Compass, (3), 133. doi:10.1111/spc3.12163
Retrieved from http://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:3102/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=6534db8b-ff08-4b30-b4fb-c7805c6947dc%40sessionmgr120
Ruyi, Z., Lirong, L., & PO, H. (2016). Positive Affect, Environmental Uncertainty, and Self-Sacrificial Leadership Influence Followers’ Self-Sacrificial Behavior. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 44(9), 1515-1524. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:3102/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&sid=93258faf-1cee-4d3b-8c94-dda16b88f85b%40sessionmgr4009
Smoak, S. (2016, July 21). More Than You Want to Know About Wal-Mart’s Technology Strategy Part 1[Blog post]. Retrieved from:
More Than You Want to Know About Wal-Mart’s Technology Strategy Part 1