Saturday, March 8, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Criterion A, B, C & D
Criterion A:
This portfolio addresses the issue of employee surveillance. Competition in the business world is growing causing companies to want a higher success rate, and due to improvements in technology they are able to observe the employee’s computer behavior. This could help improve progress in such business’ as it could restrict employees from accessing privet emails ect. during working hours. It could also help keep track of business records, and use of software which could cut company costs. There are however negative effects of this; one being the issue of the company invading their employees privacy. Another is the security of the employees’ information and how well it is protected from the public. There is also the issue of the company being able to use some of your privet information against you and this leads to the issue of people vs. machine. (“The Boss Had Wide Power To Spy On Workers”, 2007)
Criterion B:
There are several different components which are necessary for such surveillance to take place. The main IT system which is a necessary component is that of the internet, companies’ usually use privet networks. These privet networks allow companies to maintain wide area network, and also allow the companies to have a faster modems and processors to allow the internet to run quicker. This also allows companies to monitor every computer which is using their network, using more complicated software. Most companies which are using surveillance on their employees use software which allows them to track, monitor, and record what is being viewed on the employees screen.
Development in technology has allowed surveillance to evolve from purely being able to see what software the employee was using and how long for, to being able to view everything that appears on the employees screen, and companies are now being able to access and read personal emails. The internet has improved in speed with the development of privet networks allowing more software to be used at once, allowing surveillance to constantly take place, without it slowing down the network. The amount of software in which companies can now purchase in order to monitor their networks computers has improved sufficiently as well due to supply and demand.
The rate in which such developments have been made suggests that more developments will be made soon allowing companies to track almost anything the employees do on their computers at work.
Criterion C:
The ability to monitor employees has several positive and negative affects on society. One main positive affect is that it is allowing companies to keep track of software use allowing companies to cut costs on what they are not needing. It is also able to increase productivity when employees know they are being monitored. As it was found that the amount of internet abuse from employees at work is increasing dramatically. (Dixon, 2008) Also it helps keep track of business, such as important files, documents and statistics. There is also the problem of employees abusing the internet access to view inappropriate sometimes illegal websites such as pornography sites. This could lead to hostility in the work place and sexual harassment, which could all lead to the companies facing law suits. (Stanton, 2007)
Although employee surveillance does have positive aspects for a company and its employees there are also several negative affects on society. The main negative aspect is that of employee privacy. Employers are now being able to view and access employees’ private emails, and access all their privet information. The majority of employees do not understand or know how much of their internet use at work is being monitored. This is a great breach of security rights as employers are now accessing privet information. This privet information is being used against employees in many circumstances, and although there are said to be many privacy laws which keep this information safe, there is no guarantee that this information does not get out. There are even circumstances where other employees get information and use it for personal use. (Foley, 2008) If employers fail to do something which will increase productivity whilst keeping employees privacy safe, there will be a huge distrust between employees and employers.
Criterion D:
There needs to be a solution to the issues addressed above, and limits to the information which employers can access, save, and share needs to be changed. Firstly employees have the right to know that they are being monitored regardless of the form of monitoring. Whether it is video cameras of computer monitoring the employee should know that they are ‘being watched’. This could easily be done, by the employer sharing information regarding that they will be monitored and how with the employee before they are hired. If there is an issue the employee can make the decision as to whether they are comfortable with it or not.
Additional to this, the software’s used to monitor employees needs to be limited. At the moment employers are able to access employees personal emails ect. which should not be allowed. The software used should be able to show the programs which are being used, at what time, and how long for. This will allow the company to keep track of information about programs, without over stepping the boundaries of employee privacy. The use of websites such as privet email sites, however do not need to be blocked as there are times in which an employee needs to take a short break, there is no need for this to be changed. The only problem would be if the site was inappropriate for a work environment, these are the sites that should be blocked from the companies’ network. The company could also block certain websites, such as gambling or pornography sites. Also there should be a complete ban on employers being allowed to track their employees outside of the office. This solution is feasible as it does not require drastic change to the companies network, it just restricts what employers are able to view. This will not affect the progress of the company as employers will still have enough information to know if employees are being distracted from their work. It will however make the employers feel safer and more comfortable with the company, along with solving issues of employee privacy.
This portfolio addresses the issue of employee surveillance. Competition in the business world is growing causing companies to want a higher success rate, and due to improvements in technology they are able to observe the employee’s computer behavior. This could help improve progress in such business’ as it could restrict employees from accessing privet emails ect. during working hours. It could also help keep track of business records, and use of software which could cut company costs. There are however negative effects of this; one being the issue of the company invading their employees privacy. Another is the security of the employees’ information and how well it is protected from the public. There is also the issue of the company being able to use some of your privet information against you and this leads to the issue of people vs. machine. (“The Boss Had Wide Power To Spy On Workers”, 2007)
Criterion B:
There are several different components which are necessary for such surveillance to take place. The main IT system which is a necessary component is that of the internet, companies’ usually use privet networks. These privet networks allow companies to maintain wide area network, and also allow the companies to have a faster modems and processors to allow the internet to run quicker. This also allows companies to monitor every computer which is using their network, using more complicated software. Most companies which are using surveillance on their employees use software which allows them to track, monitor, and record what is being viewed on the employees screen.
Development in technology has allowed surveillance to evolve from purely being able to see what software the employee was using and how long for, to being able to view everything that appears on the employees screen, and companies are now being able to access and read personal emails. The internet has improved in speed with the development of privet networks allowing more software to be used at once, allowing surveillance to constantly take place, without it slowing down the network. The amount of software in which companies can now purchase in order to monitor their networks computers has improved sufficiently as well due to supply and demand.
The rate in which such developments have been made suggests that more developments will be made soon allowing companies to track almost anything the employees do on their computers at work.
Criterion C:
The ability to monitor employees has several positive and negative affects on society. One main positive affect is that it is allowing companies to keep track of software use allowing companies to cut costs on what they are not needing. It is also able to increase productivity when employees know they are being monitored. As it was found that the amount of internet abuse from employees at work is increasing dramatically. (Dixon, 2008) Also it helps keep track of business, such as important files, documents and statistics. There is also the problem of employees abusing the internet access to view inappropriate sometimes illegal websites such as pornography sites. This could lead to hostility in the work place and sexual harassment, which could all lead to the companies facing law suits. (Stanton, 2007)
Although employee surveillance does have positive aspects for a company and its employees there are also several negative affects on society. The main negative aspect is that of employee privacy. Employers are now being able to view and access employees’ private emails, and access all their privet information. The majority of employees do not understand or know how much of their internet use at work is being monitored. This is a great breach of security rights as employers are now accessing privet information. This privet information is being used against employees in many circumstances, and although there are said to be many privacy laws which keep this information safe, there is no guarantee that this information does not get out. There are even circumstances where other employees get information and use it for personal use. (Foley, 2008) If employers fail to do something which will increase productivity whilst keeping employees privacy safe, there will be a huge distrust between employees and employers.
Criterion D:
There needs to be a solution to the issues addressed above, and limits to the information which employers can access, save, and share needs to be changed. Firstly employees have the right to know that they are being monitored regardless of the form of monitoring. Whether it is video cameras of computer monitoring the employee should know that they are ‘being watched’. This could easily be done, by the employer sharing information regarding that they will be monitored and how with the employee before they are hired. If there is an issue the employee can make the decision as to whether they are comfortable with it or not.
Additional to this, the software’s used to monitor employees needs to be limited. At the moment employers are able to access employees personal emails ect. which should not be allowed. The software used should be able to show the programs which are being used, at what time, and how long for. This will allow the company to keep track of information about programs, without over stepping the boundaries of employee privacy. The use of websites such as privet email sites, however do not need to be blocked as there are times in which an employee needs to take a short break, there is no need for this to be changed. The only problem would be if the site was inappropriate for a work environment, these are the sites that should be blocked from the companies’ network. The company could also block certain websites, such as gambling or pornography sites. Also there should be a complete ban on employers being allowed to track their employees outside of the office. This solution is feasible as it does not require drastic change to the companies network, it just restricts what employers are able to view. This will not affect the progress of the company as employers will still have enough information to know if employees are being distracted from their work. It will however make the employers feel safer and more comfortable with the company, along with solving issues of employee privacy.
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