Page 23 - Information Management 3rd Edition

Chapter 1 – The role of information management within a business
technology systems (data-centric computing) and operational technology systems (used to monitor processes and devices) so that adjustments can be made to ensure potential gains and competitive advantage. For this to happen, additional skills are needed. Employees need to be skilled in network technology, data analytics and industrial security for example (Anon, 2016). Just think of the possibility of algorithm-based decision-making used for pricing, planning and purchasing for example. In such cases, the possibility exists that many jobs could be automated. However, new digital-supported opportunities will arise for those possessing the relevant skills (Hill, 2016).
1.9.3 How does Industry 4.0 affect the office environment?
You might think why we are looking at this topic relating to manufacturing
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and that it does not seem to have much to do with office professionals, but be
assured, you could experience and feel much of the impact of this development.
Operations and supply chain seem to be the ones that benefit most, the non-
production areas have much to gain. Hill (2018) gives some examples to illustrate
the changes for the non-manufacturing areas in a business. These examples
include smart purchasing and outsourcing, demand forecasting and intelligent
pricing, and R&D efficiency and product launch. Regarding smart purchasing and
outsourcing, Hill says among other things that “benefits will result from increased integration transparency with suppliers, access to a wider range of suppliers and greater flexibility in make-or-buy decisions and manufacturers will standardize the exchange of fully digitized product- and production-related data with suppliers”.
It seems probable that Industry 4.0 could increase efficiency in all departments
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of a business and enable businesses to do more with less employees. Expertise
in certain areas and cloud-based software suites you possess, for example, could
be offered to other businesses. Sources of recurring revenue could be created by
offering data-driven maintenance plans and repair solutions to customers. Such
changes are surely disruptive but could create opportunities for those who are flexible and willing to pursue them. Employees will have to learn new sets of skills and accept new responsibilities to succeed. Office employees would have to start looking at disciplines including big data analytics, cybernetics, and data mining and management (Hill, 2016).
As mentioned before, many jobs will not only change, but will be lost during the next few years. The working environment will change and it is up to us, the business owners and managers, to make sure that they and their employees stay informed about the changes and developments in their industries. All these changes involve people, processes, computers and machines and an environment is created where business owners and managers need to decide how they will adapt, if they wish to do so, to enable them to remain profitable in the future. Don’t be caught off-guard. Educate yourself, read about the changes and attend all the relevant courses you need to remain up to date and employable.
1.10 Conclusion
To survive in the changing business world that businesses find themselves in today and with all the challenges facing them, it is obvious that the information manager
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