Business Managers (Management in Technology Ethical Argument)

In the field of Management, Ethics is like your business presentation card.
"Ethics is a set of values, principles, and rules that define right and wrong conduct."

But what is right? and what is wrong? What is wrong for me my be right for you.
The key to this questions is inside cultural values. Cultural values exist in our self's consciously and unconsciously. These values are reflected in our society's morals and customs.

The reason I try to explain the significance of cultural values is because they are directly related to ethics in our work place. A manager in North America might have a different ethical concepts of what a manager in Venezuela or Afghanistan might have.

In North American culture the expected fundamental values include honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, respect, reliability, fairness and loyalty. These are some of the ethics that are expected from employees when representing their organization.

One of my beliefs is that Managers have a social responsibility no matter how much revenues might decrease. They have amoral obligation towards the people they serve. However, some CEOs and managers might not share the same opinion. Such is the case of Halliburton's managers in Iraq while serving as a food subsidiary for the United States Military.

Halliburton manager's supplied rotten food to the U.S. military dinner camps in Iraq. In addition to the spoiled food, there were claims that the company supplied contaminated water to civilians and troops. Furthermore, Halliburton Company workers received kickbacks from an Iraqi company.

Camp Anaconda in Iraq  -Chow hall- 

This sort of behavior and corruption is an embarrassment to the rest of hard working managers, which their ethics rise above and beyond. Their ethics, just plain and simple did not exist. They had no interest in providing a reliable service. Their sense of respect for other people did not existed. They did not exercise honesty and Integrity; and their loyalty was to them self's. They care about profit no matter who was hurt along the way.

This photo was taken in Iraq December of 2004

Thanks to the good ethics and moral conduct of some, these sort of activities were reported by some of their own employees. These employees had a strong sense of ethics and moral values. They did not hesitate in reporting the wrong conduct. They risked their jobs for the benefits of many others.

Sources Cited

Hellriegel, D., Jackson, S. E., & Slocum, J. W. (2005). Management: A competency-based approach. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western.

Microsoft Pays $ 2 million for Bullying Case

The news article reads “Microsoft to pay $ 2 million in work place Bullying Case.”

This case took place in Austin, Texas. Microsoft was ordered to pay two million in compensatory and punitive damages. The judge that presided over this case was Tim Sulak. Sulak found Microsoft guilty of “acting with malice and reckless indifference” in an organized retaliation against the salesman Michael Mercieca.

Mercieca was a highly recognized salesman with an untainted record. The retaliation occurred after Mercieca ended a relationship with a woman who became his supervisor. Mercieca attempted to solve the problem by reaching out to the Microsoft’s human relations; however, he was unsuccessful. The company did not act and allowed the behavior to continue.

Another incident that occurred and that placed Mercieca on the spot light again was the complained about the improper comment made in their office by VP Eddie O’Brien. The comment made by the VP was soon after the Tsunami that damaged a nuclear plant and devastated Japan. According to Mercieca the comment was “I would have zero pity for Japan. I would throw them right under the bus and create another tsunami if I have to.”

Mercieca found himself on the nasty side of a conspiracy created by fellow co-workers and
supervisors. He was falsely accused of sexual harassment, expense account fraud. In addition, he was block from promotions.

After four years of litigation and over 90,000 documents Mercieca is awarded the case. His two two-lawyer team was able to come out victorious over Microsoft’s super team of 250 lawyers.

Analysis - How does this affect others in the sane field?

First we must grasp an understanding of what workplace bullying is. Work place bullying is defined as repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons by one or more perpetrators. The perpetrator(s) conduct is threatening, humiliating, or intimidating. They use verbal abuse, psychological harassment, and work interference to sabotage or bully the victim.

This news article is an example on how the acts of some represent many. The behavior exhibited by Microsoft’s managers was unethical and unprofessional.

The image of managers was tainted by Microsoft’s Managers unprofessional behavior. This type of news can generate a chain reaction. People observing the news more than likely will not have the details and might reach the wrong conclusions. The news can create a sense of distrust towards managers and employees will question every action. Employees might start to wonder if their being bullied and question every judgment and feedback made by managers. Managers might not act to the full extent of their capabilities just by the fear of being called a bully if events like this repeat continuously.

How can we prevent work-place violence? – Bullying.

Whether you are an employee or a manager you know your internal organization policy. Familiarize yourself with the grievance process. Establish the exact nature of the problem or complaint to be filed. Start at the lowest level possible preferably with a neutral third party. Separate managerial or work behavior from personal. Communicate in a timely manner; don’t wait for the problem to escalate out of control.

Sources cited

LawyersandSettlements.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2016, from https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/texas-employment-labor-law/texas-employment-labor-law-lawsuits-9-20146.html

Work Place Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2016, from http://www.workplacebullying.org/individuals/problem/definition/

Applebee's E La Carte (Technology Review)

Usually, you would use a tablet to play a game, finish some school homework. But how about ordering your next drink or an appetizer. This is one of the features that Applebee's restaurant introduced about 18 months ago.

Applebee's    E- La Carte

Applebee's introduced 12,000 tablets in over 1800 locations in 2014. The chain restaurant’s decision was welcomed by Cisco Systems and Intel Capital (producer of the processor for this device).So far, the tablet allows you to order drinks, appetizers, and even pay your bill. The full menu is not available yet. Currently there is a combination of human service (hostess and waitress/waiter).  The device was also welcomed by parents who use the tablet’s games to distract and entertained their children while they wait for their meal to be served.

This innovative technology was not welcome by everyone. The service crew saw this new technology as a threat. The service crew saw this technology as competition and that eventually it was going to replace them. However, after running the program for some months they realized that the tablet actually helped them gain additional income. People were waiting less time to order a drink. Although there was one server assigned for 5 to 7 tables; those tables were capable of making drink orders at the same time. Resulting in less time writing orders and still accomplishing to serve all their customers.

According to MIT engineers and restaurant experts, this system can generate up to a 10 % sales boost and 7- minute faster table turns. The presto tablet features an all-day battery life. The tablet is rugged in design in order to withstand spills and bumps.

Applebee's E- Menu

One feature that I personally experienced is that I did not had to wait for my check. I was able to pay my bill right there on my table with my credit card. There was a portion of the tablet that illuminated the credit card reader. In addition, it calculates for you the desire percentage of gratuity. Another feature that I found it was that I can see the drink selection in high definition, making it more appealing.

I found a few negatives to this tablet. It does not take cash as payment (maybe in the future will see it). The tablet takes a part of your table. If you have a table full of people, you might need the extra space. Another negative factor was that; I imagine that the sanitizing process of these devices is not easy. These tablets are in contact with several people throughout the day.

Overall it is a great strategy to gain additional sales and minimize the time that consumers spend sitting while dinning. Plus, you may play a few games on the tablet if you forgot yours. One feature that I would like to see in the near future on these devices, is an updated so that you can make voice order without touching the screen. In my personal and humble opinion, it is the perfect balance between automatized and human service.


Sources cited

Konrad, A. (n.d.). Applebee's Will install 100,000 Intel-Backed Tablets. Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2013/12/03/applebees-intel-tablet-rollout/#42ccb0d82997

What is Management in Technology?

Technology Management can innovate the World 

Technology Managers manage businesses technological fundamentals in order to create a competitive advantage. In other words, they convert scientific developments into innovations that lead to remarkable economic and social impact.

Technology can bring people and businesses

 together in a non traditional manner.

This field is aimed to make a difference in a world in which social advancement and economics are depending more every day on the integration of technology and business. There are not many businesses that would not benefit from technology.

The managers of today and tomorrow need to understand how technology is evolving and adapt to the accelerated pace on which it does. Management in Technology is a broad field with focuses on business management, computing, decision-making, marketing, and strategic planning in business and industrial management.

This field is valuable because it creates competition for success. This competition is based on innovation, creativity and market analysis. In addition, this field impacts Sociological aspects of homes and work-places throughout the world.

Please click on the video below

One example of this would be ordering a pizza. Years ago your order by phone and if we go a little bit further into the past you had to travel in order to purchase your pizza. Nowadays you can sit in your home order a pizza and no one has to set foot in the store. This acquisition of technology changed the interaction between client and business. Furthermore, this technology innovation changed the manner in which the business operated.If this is the change that technology can bring to a pizza restaurant, imagine the possibilities that technology well managed can bring to other businesses.

The necessary skills that a person must develop in the field of Management in Technology are communication, competence, managerial and problem solving abilities.
In addition, a Technology Manager must be skilled in:

• Technology strategy: Create a plan of action design to achieve a desire goal.
• Technology forecasting: Identify possible applications of future technology businesses.
• Technology scouting: Scouting is the method in which a manager seeks relevant technology. 
• Technology roadmap: Perhaps this is the most important skills for a Technology Manager. The ability to match technology to the business and market’s needs.

Sources Cited

Hellriegel, D., Jackson, S. E., & Slocum, J. W. (2005). Management: A competency-based approach. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western.

Great Basin College. (n.d.). Management in Technology Brochure. Retrieved March 21, 2016, from http://www.gbcnv.edu/programform/docs/brochure_BAS-MT.pdf