Several innovations in data management are reshaping the IT landscape. Among them are: server virtualization, storage virtualization, desktop virtualization, cloud applications, and the near future network virtualization. As an executive, we will ask ourselves, and discuss, the extent to which the virtualization of processing portends the removal of a dedicated IT staff. We will discuss the extent to which the CIO is no longer the manager of a dedicated expert staff, but fully engaged in vendor management and service oversight. Finally we should ask ourselves the extent to which bricks and mortar will even define the corporation as an entity. The corporation, or at least its administrative wing, is more of an abstract. Does it matter if the processing engine of your corporate data is in Bangladesh or Nairobi? Does it matter what flag the vendor’s employee’s salute or what god they worship? Once we have achieved global network infrastructure stability and redundancy, we may find ourselves seriously questioning our understanding of “corporation” or even employment. Tackle the problem: What is the balance between sustaining the interests of the corporation and sustaining the interests of our staff? Is our traditional staff (bound by the “contractual” arrangements) significant when weighed against the interests of the stockholders? This is not an easy or obvious question.
The readings here occupy three niches: virtualization technology; the nature of the corporate structure and its relevance to workers; and managing disruption. I include a discussion of Charles Handy. He was prescient regarding the future of work. The interest theory article should be read to understand how interests are managed through the contract. Agents work for principals. Both are subject to the terms (limitations) of the contract.
PLEASE USE ONLY REFERENCE PROVIDED
Reference: Bradley, J., J. Loucks, J. Macaulay, A. Noronha, & M. Wade. (July 2015). Disruptor and Disrupted — Strategy in the Digital Vortex. Global Center for Digital Business Transformation. Retrieved from https://www.imd.org/dbt/whitepapers/disruptor-disrupted.
Citation: (Bradley et al., 2015, p#)
Reference: Dunne, S., S. Mansell, M. Parker and J. Veldman (2016). The nature and purpose of the corporation: A roundtable discussion. ephemera: theory & politics in organization. Volume 16(1): 135-153.
Citation: (Dunne et al., 2016, p#)
Reference: Eisenhardt, K. 1989. Agency Theory: An Assessment and Review. Academy of Management Review. 14(1), 57-74.
Citation: (Eisenhardt, 1989, p#)
Reference: Kay, R. (June 21, 2009). Emulation Or Virtualization? Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/2427039/enterprise-software/emulation-or-virtualization-.html.
Citation: (Kay, 2009)
Reference: Pagan, M. (October 29, 2009). Review of Charles Handy’s ‘The Age of Unreason’ (1989). Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Review-of-Charles-Handys-The-Age-of-Unreason-(1989)&id=3175855.
Citation: (Pagan, 2009)
Reference: Sheldrake, J. (January 2015). the Global Policy Institute. London metropolitan university. Retrieved from http://www.gpilondon.com/wp-content/uploads/Sheldrake-Policy-Paper_Jan15.pdf
Citation: (Sheldrake, 2015, p#)
Reference: Shetty, S. (February 11, 2016). Gartner Says Smart Machine Technologies Will Render the Offshore Model Obsolete for Competitive Advantage. Retrieved from http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3207317.
Citation: (Shetty, 2016)
Reference: Waters, J. (March 15, 2007). Virtualization Definition and Solutions. Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/2439494/virtualization/virtualization-definition-and-solutions.html.
Citation: (Waters, 2007)
Virtualization Process and its effects on Employment
The field of data management has grown and reshaped through the innovations that alter the employment structure and roles in various places of work. The innovations that have changed the field of data management include cloud application, storage visualization, desktop visualization, storage virtualization and server virtualization. The innovations take the jobs formerly done by employees and executives thus changing their roles or end their careers.
To start with, the virtualization processing has inclined organizations to lay off workers or to change their roles (Kay, 2009) Visualization process results in the automation of activities thus rendering former employees jobless. In this regard, dedicated staff is removed from their position once the visualization process can implement a task with efficiency and without supervision. Additionally, dedicated staff is removed from their position if the visualization process results in better results than those of an employee (Pagan, 2009). In this regard, the automation of activities results to improved results through increased production, faster production and efficiency.
Consequently, the visualization process transforms the role of a CIO from being the manager of dedicated staff to a being engaged in vendor management and service oversight (Sheldrake, 2015).In this regard, the automation as a result of visualization is able to cover the roles formerly played by a CIO. The CIO is responsible for setting and leading the technology strategy of an organization to ensure adopts different innovations and inventions (Shetty, 2016). Innovations and inventions lead to efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of services or production of goods and services.
Finally, the brick and mortar model is a vital part of an organization especially in activities that require one on one interaction between individuals (Waters, 2007). In the wave of process automation, the existence of bricks and mortar defines the part of a corporation calls for interaction between the organization, clients and other parties on one on one basis (Dunne et al., 2016). The automation of the administrative wing operates virtually thus officials can operate from any point across the globe. The system can be adopted by officials across the universe despite their differences and they end up giving standard results in their job performances. Equally important, there is the issue of balancing between sustaining the interests of the corporation as well as sustaining the interest of staff in the wake of automation (Bradley, 2015). In this case, the automation takes the jobs of the existing employees and in the interest of balancing the employee needs and observing the contractual agreements the corporations end up giving employees roles on different or related fields. The approach ensures that workers are not laid off due to the automation of activities while at the same time meeting the interests of the stockholders.
References
Dunne, S., S. Mansell, M. Parker and J. Veldman (2016). The nature and purpose of the corporation: A roundtable discussion. ephemera: theory & politics in organization. Volume 16(1): 135-153.
Bradley, J., J. Loucks, J. Macaulay, A. Noronha, & M. Wade. (July 2015). Disruptor and Disrupted — Strategy in the Digital Vortex. Global Center for Digital Business Transformation. Retrieved from https://www.imd.org/dbt/whitepapers/disruptor-disrupted.
Waters, J. (March 15, 2007). Virtualization Definition and Solutions. Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/2439494/virtualization/virtualization-definition-and-solutions.html.
Kay, R. (June 21, 2009). Emulation Or Virtualization? Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/2427039/enterprise-software/emulation-or-virtualization-.html.
Pagan, M. (October 29, 2009). Review of Charles Handy’s ‘The Age of Unreason’ (1989). Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Review-of-Charles-Handys-The-Age-of-Unreason-(1989)&id=3175855.
Sheldrake, J. (January 2015). the Global Policy Institute. London metropolitan university. Retrieved from http://www.gpilondon.com/wp-content/uploads/Sheldrake-Policy-Paper_Jan15.pdf
Shetty, S. (February 11, 2016). Gartner Says Smart Machine Technologies Will Render the Offshore Model Obsolete for Competitive Advantage. Retrieved from http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3207317.
