Re: Substituting computers for people--positive or negative?

Rich Kay :- (CNFK-N1@emh5.korea.army.mil)
Sat, 28 Jan 95 14:22:04 KST (1422Z)

Alexia writes:
>KCBurgess writes that with some automation efforts, such as the
>implementation of employee access systems, that we are "task shifting."
>Higher paid employees are doing clerical tasks (directly entering their
>own address changes rather than filling out a form which an HR clerk then
>enters into the system).

>Is this positive or negative?

To comment on the above, this is positive IMHO. Dr. Deming talked about
the forces of destruction and the joy of work. Fortune 500 Magazine had
an article of what the top CEO's said future leaders needed to succeed -
be a team builder and computer fluent, not just literate.

In the military, I am seeing many clerical positions changing due to more
leaders doing their own typing. This is certainly a trend towards not
really task shifting, but process improvement. Why fill out a form when
you can enter it on a keyboard much quicker?

We need to encourge people to grow and continually learn. If we own these
HR systems, we must retrain our folks from being clerical workers to do
other value added functions.

Sincerely, Rich Kay

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