626 information resource management

Discuss one of two positions regarding IT and its social impact

This week we are going to have a robust class discussion using the Week 4 Discussion Forum. Read the following article:

Word version also available in Files Directory/Week 4 if link does not work..

After reading the article do Internet research related to the topic that you can use to strengthen your perpesctives regarding the topic.

Using this forum, engage in a rigorous and active discussion with fellow students throughout the week about the article. Select one of the two opposing views and make a case regarding why your support that view. Find at least two other students with the opposing view and engage in interaction regarding why your view is more correct than their view. Be civil and objective in your discussion postings.

Grading Criteria: Discussions represent our “in class” robust and engaging conversations about various topics. In order to receive a grade that represents an “A” you must:

Try to make your first post by Wednesday of each week to give other students time to react to what you posted and to interact with you during the rest of the week

Interact with a minimum of two other students (minimum effort is not “A” work)

Post thoughtful, researched and well-reasoned responses to the Discussion Forum questions

Demonstrate that you have read and/or listened to the assigned readings and lectures

Read all (or almost all) posts by other students

Participate in discussions on multiple days during the week to ensure interaction and “back and forth” – so set aside two or three times a week to participate in the weekly discussion.

Interact in a substantive manner with and engage at least two other students, at a minimum, in substantive discussion

Make substantive posts that demonstrate that you have read the material. Posting comments such as “I agree with you, Sally” will not result in an “A” grade.

First student

I don’t think I caught the year this writing was published, but between the two views, I think Penzias Modern Booster view has come to fruition. Penzias hypothesized in 1995 that “we are poised on the verge of a second information revolution.” (assigned reading) I think that we are already at the tail end of that information revolution. Generally, we think of information technology to slowly evolve but it can surely contribute to revolutionary and social impacts. (Kranzberg, M. (1985) The Information Age: Evolution or Revolution?, p. 36). As well, a revolution is a transformation across a large population and not just a small community. Especially with the advent of the world wide web and more recently, streaming video services and social media platforms, there has absolutely been a complete change in not only how information technology is used but also how information is shared.

Penzias’ hypothesis also posits that modern technology will be more integrated, rather than siloed, and will move towards an era of harmony. During this era of harmony, each customer becomes “a partner in value creation by participating in “design” at the point of sale.” This something else that I believe has already happened. There are so many services and products in which customers/buyers have their “hands in” from the beginning. Technology has allowed us to feel like a part of the process for a more personal experience. Essentially, information technologies and systems have evolved tremendously, even just in the past 2 decades, and have been implemented and used in ways that would have never been thought of being used 10-15 years ago.

Second student

Rifkin is arguing that technology is counter-productive; as we have seen it in myriad examples where technology can do more harm than good. Take the Baltimore City hack where they were held at ransom putting people at risk; there comes a point where the IT infrastructure is TOO much and not safe. This in a way can remind me of the 5-year plans that Joseph Stalin tried to implement in order to modernize the Soviet Union only to realize that they were too late; now we are trying to modernize some of the cornerstones in this country like manufacturing that really has built this country into the behemoth it is; however the country is slowly transforming into a service-oriented economy – replacing labor with machines without giving the labor force the skills to be able to survive in a service-oriented dynamic. The IT infrastructure is really putting the conversation about the importance of technology. Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang’s platform is focused on the support of economic initiatives; including a 1K a month proposal.

One of the most interesting thing that Rifkin proposes is the third sector: a community sector that is complied of community-based non-profits that can be able to provide the proper employers with the proper labor force that would be displaced in that aspect – because with the constantly rising cost of education – it shows that most of the labor force would rather go back into the manufacturing aspect instead.