Freedom And Social Justice Through Technology By Barbour And Dyson
Freedom and Social Justice Through Technology
Technology is many things to many people. The invention of many wonderful and useful tools can be attributed to the lifestyles many individuals enjoy each and very day. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for the development and implementation of many of the technologies utilized today, the lives of many, would involve more physical labor and the phrase “as days work in a days time” would have a much different meaning.
Therefore, it is the intention of this paper to provide an understanding as to what the authors Barbour and Dyson were describing when they wrote of technology providing freedom to society and how technology has become the vessel of social justice to many whom would otherwise be the …show more content…
muscle behind the success of those potentially more educated or financially secure. In addition, the paper will outline how advances in two online technologies, online purchasing and online learning, have provided landscape and irrigation contractors the ability to get the most productivity out of a days work by providing them online access to their suppliers, via the internet, without having to leave a jobsite. The Freedom and Social Justice of Technology
Every job has a set way of accomplishment.
Many jobs actually have step-by-step instructions as to how to properly reach a conclusion; however, just because there is a preferred set of steps to completing a project, does that mean it is the only way to do the job correctly? The answer is no. There is always a better, quicker, safer, more efficient, less expensive way in completing a task. This is the very nature of innovation and technology. Someone somewhere has found a better way to get the job done through a new form of technology and has implemented it for the betterment of the industry or society. Through these new technologies, people find freedom that can and does improve their work/life balance. Barbour (1993) provided a list of benefits provided by technology freeing the working individual to have a fuller life both inside and outside the workplace. Those freedoms are; higher living standards, opportunities for choice, more leisure, and improved communications. Barbour (1993) continued if it were not for advances in technology the employee of today would be very much like past employees who were constrained to working long hard hours with very little to show for …show more content…
it.
As technology advances industry, machines or computers that provide a more level playing field within society replace jobs that were once performed mainly by lower-class undereducated employees. Dyson and Rosenthal (1997) explained that menial tasks like house keeping, laundry, and many manual labor construction jobs that were once seen as only servant work is now done with the use of machines and computers, leveling the social stigma and freeing those who were once seen as servants to educate themselves to more fulfilling positions.
The Internet and The Landscape/Irrigation Contractor
Just as in any trade, time is money and as material suppliers become more Internet savvy and open up the availability of inventory to the contractor online, contractors can utilize the valuable working hours on the jobsite instead of running back and forth to supplier warehouses to get supplies. The landscape and irrigation contractor is no different than any other trade contractor, especially if he/she is based in a location where warm weather months are paramount to the success of the organization. Having the ability to make purchases after working hours provides business owners the ability to minimize workers time spent at the supply house and to maximize that time on the job.
Online Inventory Levels and Ordering
Landscape contractors, just like any other contractor, need to find any way possible to maximize the amount of time spent on the jobsite completing the project. Any time spent behind the wheel of a truck, whether it is to pick up a piece of equipment or to pick up material from a supplier, is equal to time and money being wasted and lost. One way this deficit is being eliminated is through the efforts of local suppliers to make inventory levels available to those contractors through the use of the internet, allowing owners, supervisors, and superintendents the ability to see exactly what is on hand and available, then providing the ability to order those materials online at a more suitable time. MindTools (2016) provided a list of tools available that assist in the prioritization of time and how all people, not just contractors can utilize the time available to them to make the most of the day. The ability to order online and then pick up orders on the way to the jobsite or having them delivered is one way participation is empowered in the industry.
Online Industry Education
Education is the key to enabling participation, however, time again presents a major restriction.
Having the ability to access educational modules online can lift those restraints and also provide one the ability to learn at a pace that is better suited to the student. Krawcke (2016) stated the Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning industry has taken a major lead in the trade industries when it comes to online learning by encouraging employees to utilize the tool as a way to not only learn the trade from industry educators, but by allowing them to take the courses online and at their own pace. This growing trend in not specific to the HVAC industry, nor is it only provided through online universities. Many suppliers are providing education modules online that will educate landscape and irrigation contractors in job specific and industry specific tasks that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This tool and its flexibility again are ways participation is enabled within the
industry.
Conclusion
The trade industries have historically been industries that were populated by individuals who worked long hours with a lot of sweat, muscles, and aching backs. While those long days, sweat, and aching backs are still a part of the deal, technology has provided the landscape and irrigation contractor ways to manage time more effectively and educate themselves in ways that do not interfere with times where work is the priority. Online purchasing gives contractors the time to maximize working hours by allowing time after or before work to prepare for the needs of the day either before or after the work is done.
Education is a key component to the success of any organization; therefore, increases in the availability of online education has given landscape and irrigation companies a new edge with educated employees who learn at their own pace and at times that do not interfere with tight work schedules. Overall, Technology has not only benefited the white collar worker, but the blue color worker as well.
Technology is many things to many people. The invention of many wonderful and useful tools can be attributed to the lifestyles many individuals enjoy each and very day. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for the development and implementation of many of the technologies utilized today, the lives of many, would involve more physical labor and the phrase “as days work in a days time” would have a much different meaning.
Therefore, it is the intention of this paper to provide an understanding as to what the authors Barbour and Dyson were describing when they wrote of technology providing freedom to society and how technology has become the vessel of social justice to many whom would otherwise be the …show more content…
muscle behind the success of those potentially more educated or financially secure. In addition, the paper will outline how advances in two online technologies, online purchasing and online learning, have provided landscape and irrigation contractors the ability to get the most productivity out of a days work by providing them online access to their suppliers, via the internet, without having to leave a jobsite. The Freedom and Social Justice of Technology
Every job has a set way of accomplishment.
Many jobs actually have step-by-step instructions as to how to properly reach a conclusion; however, just because there is a preferred set of steps to completing a project, does that mean it is the only way to do the job correctly? The answer is no. There is always a better, quicker, safer, more efficient, less expensive way in completing a task. This is the very nature of innovation and technology. Someone somewhere has found a better way to get the job done through a new form of technology and has implemented it for the betterment of the industry or society. Through these new technologies, people find freedom that can and does improve their work/life balance. Barbour (1993) provided a list of benefits provided by technology freeing the working individual to have a fuller life both inside and outside the workplace. Those freedoms are; higher living standards, opportunities for choice, more leisure, and improved communications. Barbour (1993) continued if it were not for advances in technology the employee of today would be very much like past employees who were constrained to working long hard hours with very little to show for …show more content…
it.
As technology advances industry, machines or computers that provide a more level playing field within society replace jobs that were once performed mainly by lower-class undereducated employees. Dyson and Rosenthal (1997) explained that menial tasks like house keeping, laundry, and many manual labor construction jobs that were once seen as only servant work is now done with the use of machines and computers, leveling the social stigma and freeing those who were once seen as servants to educate themselves to more fulfilling positions.
The Internet and The Landscape/Irrigation Contractor
Just as in any trade, time is money and as material suppliers become more Internet savvy and open up the availability of inventory to the contractor online, contractors can utilize the valuable working hours on the jobsite instead of running back and forth to supplier warehouses to get supplies. The landscape and irrigation contractor is no different than any other trade contractor, especially if he/she is based in a location where warm weather months are paramount to the success of the organization. Having the ability to make purchases after working hours provides business owners the ability to minimize workers time spent at the supply house and to maximize that time on the job.
Online Inventory Levels and Ordering
Landscape contractors, just like any other contractor, need to find any way possible to maximize the amount of time spent on the jobsite completing the project. Any time spent behind the wheel of a truck, whether it is to pick up a piece of equipment or to pick up material from a supplier, is equal to time and money being wasted and lost. One way this deficit is being eliminated is through the efforts of local suppliers to make inventory levels available to those contractors through the use of the internet, allowing owners, supervisors, and superintendents the ability to see exactly what is on hand and available, then providing the ability to order those materials online at a more suitable time. MindTools (2016) provided a list of tools available that assist in the prioritization of time and how all people, not just contractors can utilize the time available to them to make the most of the day. The ability to order online and then pick up orders on the way to the jobsite or having them delivered is one way participation is empowered in the industry.
Online Industry Education
Education is the key to enabling participation, however, time again presents a major restriction.
Having the ability to access educational modules online can lift those restraints and also provide one the ability to learn at a pace that is better suited to the student. Krawcke (2016) stated the Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning industry has taken a major lead in the trade industries when it comes to online learning by encouraging employees to utilize the tool as a way to not only learn the trade from industry educators, but by allowing them to take the courses online and at their own pace. This growing trend in not specific to the HVAC industry, nor is it only provided through online universities. Many suppliers are providing education modules online that will educate landscape and irrigation contractors in job specific and industry specific tasks that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This tool and its flexibility again are ways participation is enabled within the
industry.
Conclusion
The trade industries have historically been industries that were populated by individuals who worked long hours with a lot of sweat, muscles, and aching backs. While those long days, sweat, and aching backs are still a part of the deal, technology has provided the landscape and irrigation contractor ways to manage time more effectively and educate themselves in ways that do not interfere with times where work is the priority. Online purchasing gives contractors the time to maximize working hours by allowing time after or before work to prepare for the needs of the day either before or after the work is done.
Education is a key component to the success of any organization; therefore, increases in the availability of online education has given landscape and irrigation companies a new edge with educated employees who learn at their own pace and at times that do not interfere with tight work schedules. Overall, Technology has not only benefited the white collar worker, but the blue color worker as well.