Different types of telecommunications and networking

¶ … Telecommunications & Networking

Discuss the different types of telecommunications and networking devices in today's businesses

Perhaps the most obvious form of telecommunications technology used in the workplace today is that of the computer. The computer has become so ubiquitous in everyday life that many offices have been able to use outsourced labor or telecommuters to reduce costs. Data entry clerks, call centers operators, and everyday administrative employees can all use the World Wide Web to connect to the corporate Intranet, do research online, and communicate with colleagues and superiors via email, chat, and online message boards even without leaving their homes or while residing in an office far, far away from headquarters.

Once upon a time, landline telephones were the primary telecommunications devices people used to keep in touch. Today, texting and cellphones enable employees, for better or for worse, to be able to work from home; to get online while commuting in a subway or train before they walk through the office door in the morning; or even to do work on vacation. So long as a laptop is able to make use of a wireless connection, an employee's connection to the virtual workplace can be constant and uninterrupted. While it is true that the Internet can offer many distractions to employees at work, such as shopping online (including the infamous 'Cyber Monday' several days after Thanksgiving) employers also have a heightened level of expectation of employee's conscientiousness. Employees are expected to check work-related texts, emails, and even work from home on a regular basis, when it is not specifically in the employee's job description. The greater speed of modern communications has made offices virtual rather than 'real world' locations.

However, there are some advantages to telecommunication in the modern workplace. Many people telecommute to work and have no need to enter an actual office to work, thanks to online technology. This can save money for both the business and the employee: businesses have less overhead, while the worker does not have to pay the usual costs of commuting, buying an entire wardrobe of business clothes, or eating away from home. Many environmental activists have suggested that telecommunications technology is one of the keys to reducing the physical carbon footprint of modern enterprises. Faxes, video camcorders, and web conferencing technology make it easy for employees to obtain workplace documents and attend meetings. It is easy for employees to be present at the office, virtually, even when they are not physically present at their desks.

Of course, there are some drawbacks. Telecommuting workers lose some of the human and social support of colleagues, and supervisors may find it more difficult to monitor employees who work online. In the case of outsourced call centers abroad, calls must be monitored to ensure that workers conform to the attitude and demeanor demanded by the company when interacting with customers, and are able to bridge any cultural barriers that might exist between themselves and customers, when speaking. Call screening technology and software that monitors and blocks negative employee behavior is an equally vital component of workplace online communications.