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| Cyber cynicism hinders consultancy sector
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| | Figures released by the
Chartered Management
Institute suggest that
‘cyber cynicism’ is
taking hold across
organisations in the
consultancy sector, as
employers fail to
capitalise on the
business benefits
offered by technology.
The data confirms
long-held views about
‘internet policing’ and
indicates that the
failure to allow
widespread use of
technology will hinder
business in the
long-run.
Based on qualitative
and quantitative
research aged 35 and
under, the research
reveals that employers
across the consultancy
sector view internet
activity as a ‘massive
timewaster’. Two thirds
(64%) monitor employee
internet access and 52%
block ‘inappropriate’
websites. A significant
number (16%) also retain
tight control over
access by imposing
curfews on internet
usage.
This high level of
policing comes against a
backdrop of enthusiasm | |
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| | for internet-based
applications amongst
employees in the
consultancy sector.
Asked to highlight why
they want to use the
internet, the majority
focused on its use ‘for
professional
development’ (60%).
Slightly fewer (57%)
claimed freedom to use
the internet is ‘useful
for research’ and 48%
argued it helps ‘for
doing work’.
The data, published
in association with
Ordnance Survey, also
reveals different usage
patterns according to
age group. For example,
67% of those under 25
have ‘read a forum’ in
the past three months,
compared to just 51% of
those aged over 30.
Two-thirds (69%) of
those aged 25 or under
have watched videos
online (work or
otherwise), compared to
54% of individuals aged
30 plus. With evidence
also suggesting
respondents want to use
business networking
sites such as LinkedIn
(10% for both managers
and students), the
implication is that
employers must change | |
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| | lead to frustration and
the loss of top talent
at best, or worse, an
open door for
competitors to build
advantage through a
better equipped and
enabled workforce.”
Analysis of the data
confirms that many
respondents believe
their enthusiasm for
web-based technology is
not yet matched by
employers. Just 3% in
the sector claim their
organisation ‘falls in
love with the latest
trend’ and 41% say their
employer only ‘takes up
things once they’re
tried and tested’.
Worryingly 10% go as far
as describing their
employer as a
‘dinosaur’.
Asked to elaborate on
‘corporate usage’ it
becomes clear that many
organisations in the
consultancy sector are
slow to adopt new
internet (Web 2.0)
technology. Although 93%
use email or communicate
with staff via intranets
(79%) only small
proportions are happy to
use web-based
applications such as
Google Docs (43%), | |
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| | organisational message
boards (12%) or
web-casting (16%).
Jan Hutchinson,
director of HR &
corporate services at
Ordnance Survey, says:
“The low level adoption
of new technology is in
tandem with employers’
belief that Internet
usage is a ‘time
waster’. It’s something
that must be looked at
because the longer this
situation is allowed to
remain unchallenged, the
greater the likelihood
UK employers will fall
behind their
international
competitors.”
The findings have
been published in the
wake of wider research
showing how so-called
‘new media’ learning is
growing in popularity. A
report called ‘Learning
at Work: evolution or
revolution’ revealed
that 51% of directors
now say they use online
videos to develop new
skills (up from 21% 12
months ago) and
one-third (34%) also use
social networking sites
to boost their
knowledge, compared to
just 12%, last year. | |
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| | their attitude towards
technology, or risk
alienating their future
managers and leaders.
Jo Causon, director,
marketing and corporate
affairs at the Chartered
Management Institute,
says: “Younger managers
are growing up with much
greater familiarity of
technology and are
comfortable using
technologies such as
mobile video, TV
on-demand, or
information services
such as Google and
Wikipedia. Quite
clearly, organisations
need to harness the
comfort levels these
individuals have with
internet-based
resources, because
failure to do so will | |
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