Introduction
The United States came to be in the Age of the Enlightenment, i.e. circa 1680 to 1800. The era in the Western philosophy whereby thinkers and writers were rejecting fallacies of the bygone instead choosing to focus on intellectual, cultural, and scientific life started in the 18th century. Reasons of such shift concerned an essential source of authority and legitimacy. Enlightenment philosophers intended to create a scientific republic where ideas could flow freely and useful knowledge could upgrade well-being of all citizens. The Constitution of the United States represents a longing to encourage scientific inspiration. It offers the United States Congress the influence to endorse progress of useful arts and science by fortifying limited periods when inventors and authors hold a private right to their corresponding discoveries and writings. The clause has created the basis for the US copyright and patent procedures. Makers of original technologies and art could get an authority that offered monopoly, which after some time could become free to all citizens, thereby entering the public realm. Thus, the current paper evaluates how organizational technology has been implemented in the United States Army and its effects.
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Three Kinds of Technology within the United States Army
The following are the key three kinds of technology employed in the United States Army. Throughout the United States’ history, developments in the military have been fuelled by innovation. Military branches have managed to utilize technology in creative and new ways to acquire a strategic advantage over their opponents. Conflicts of the previous decade have exposed the innovation gap that obligated the United States military to respond to enemy’s tactics sniper attacks and roadside bombs rather than forestalling them. The Department of Defense’s research and advancement apparatus has been slow to react with new and improved weapons aimed at responding to changing intimidations. Detractors have urged the Pentagon to avoid using more money on science projects, which target undefined theoretical future wars. They concentrate on organizations that they understand move to the areas that can have solutions in weeks or months rather than years and decades. In this case, therefore, innovation has become unusual, yet important as it has been assisting troops in raising their efficiency at war.
Introduction of faster, quieter, and safer helicopters is an added technology that has strengthened United States Army. When Taliban troops shot down the MH-47 Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan in summer, killing 40 US troops, it was a sufficient proof that the US forces needed a faster chopper. Medical evacuation units and individual operators, in particular, need more speed not only to reach crucial areas of the frontline more swiftly, but also to be capable of dodging the enemy fire. Secret missions like the one that resulted in the Osama bin Laden’s death have also brought about the necessity for a quiet, agile, and less detectable rotorcraft. An advanced stealth helicopter utilized in that action crashed, emphasizing another concern with the present crop of military helicopters. The advanced technology in the United States Army has brought many advantages though they are the most vulnerable to accidents at the time of taking off and landing.
In addition, there has been a need to introduce a technology to make the enemy docile. In this case, therefore, weapons that do not kill have been introduced. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have proved a need for troops to differentiate between enemies’ combatants and the local population. Therefore, calls for nonlethal weapons have become significant. Troops would utilize these tools widely used by the law enforcement. The aim of nonlethal weapons is to temporarily weaken opponents or their apparatus without harming nearby non-combatants. The army also requires devices that function at long distances to stop unknown vehicles or personnel until they could define if they are a risk.
Moreover, the third technology employed by the United States Army concerns the use of ultra-light, super-survivable dune buggies. A wayside bomb threat has established a years-long tradition to armour military trucks heavily. The Department of Defense has spent billions of dollars on extremely survivable mine-resilient ambush-sheltered or MRAP vehicles. However, enormous weight of these armored trucks has caused many problems as it reduces mobility and restricts off-road driving.
Different Types of Technology and Different Competencies
Application of technology in the US army has created different types of competencies. Competency model is usually used in the human resource departments to define achievement of both groups and individuals. Competency model is utilized in the variety of means like candidates' qualification assessments for jobs, development of training schemes, executive coaching, and recruitment. Across the four key kinds of competency replicas, one will find similar apparatus. A description of the standard factor focuses on achievements along with organizational and behavioral anchors that could be assessed and measured.
The application of technology in the United States’ army has resulted in the organizational change. Known as generic core competencies, the US organizational competency model defines competencies needed by all employees in the military. It utilizes the technology approach that stipulates around five to six behavior sets that every employee should attain. These behavior skills and sets apply to all levels of workers. For instance, a core competency might be that each worker should be an incessant learner. The competency detailed technology advances all levels of employees and requires achievement of these competencies, including skill-building and learning progressive skills.
Application of technology in the United States Army has also created competency in the functional competency models detailed in performance standards required by individuals working in certain roles or activities. For instance, varying functional competencies exist for soldiers in terms of fight, construction, development, and research. The army’s comprehensive competency model is a model that applies to all functions and jobs in the military. The Department of Defense in the USA sponsors the clearinghouse competency model that describes competency models particular to hundreds of different jobs types and businesses.
Moreover, technology application in the US army has had an impact on the job competency. Job competency models typically detail specific behaviors, knowledge, and skills needed for exceptional performance in certain activities. The Department of Defense usually develops individual competency standards for every activity in the army. In the retail environment, for instance, the customer service and cashier representatives have different job competencies as compared to a stock person or a loss deterrence associate. Army managers can determine skills and behaviors of soldiers and workers using competency models for that certain job to measure their performance.
After application of the technology in the US army, effects have been felt in terms of the leadership as well. The managerial or leadership competency models detail factors that lead to success of army leaders, executives, senior staff as well as others who have top direction and management responsibilities. The command uses leadership competency models for executive drilling and creation of leadership development packages. The model characteristically includes from eight to twelve different competencies, concentrating on areas such as self-development, innovation, leadership, professional judgment, self-assurance, and relationship development.
Effects of Technology on the Organizational Culture
When incorporating technology into an organization, there occurs a drastic change in the organizational culture. Effects on the culture are a result of changes brought about by technology application. Technology exists in a constant flux state, changing and adapting based on entrepreneurship advancements and demands in the army. Any business depends on the technology for a day-to-day functioning, from a decision of a single business to buy a laptop to advanced organizational roll-out of the time-management software. Besides standard smartphones and office laptops, organizations install information systems, specialized technology equipment, and custom software to keep functions running efficiently. Advancements in the technology bring about the possibility to reduce time required to complete activities or lessen the necessity for some process and job activity. Typically, the need for increased productivity leads to upgrades of technology within any organization, which can significantly affect company’s operations. These changes are established as a result of technology application in the organization, which results in a change of the organization culture.
Technology and Organizational Effectiveness
Application of technology can help organizational effectiveness. Delivery of quality services and anticipation of quality goods by clients are among fundamental managerial roles. One technique to achieve this objective is to rely greatly on technology. To evaluate technology’s implications on effectiveness of an institution is a hard task for most organizations.
How Technology Can Propel Organization’s Global Expansion Strategies
With escalated globalization and periodic economic calamities, many organizations have been forced to vindicate their resources and operations to handle the ever-growing competition. In order to attain these apprehensions, technology has been understood as a peculiar approach and it has been advancing at a high speed. Success of integrating technology in institutions nonetheless varies in terms of how technologic advancements are incorporated into organizations. An institution is expected to utilize the least amount of resources to acquire the best promising outputs. Technology propels organization’s global development plans. Comprehensive policy on the micro level pertains to distribution of the company's possessions in a manner that takes advantage of profit chances outside of the domestic market. In its wider interpretation, that description encompasses functions like overseas fights, foreign wars, and training.
In conclusion, technology application in organization comes with great and noticeable changes. The use of technology in the US army has also caused significant changes. Effectiveness of working systems has been increased. In addition, different competencies have been developed in the result of technology application.
