Information Technology "Going Paperless" Concept
Information Technology and the ‘Going Paperless’ Concept
The idea of a company’s business operations venturing into a paperless environment from a paper-filled filing cabinet clutter is not a new concept. The aspiration for a paperless environment was conceived in the minds of management beginning over twenty years ago, dating back to manufacturers and the idea of paperless workstations. (Weber) Unfortunately, the businesses then were forced to delay paperless environment execution due to a lack of technological advancements. Since then, the world of information technology has boomed and the advancements and improvements that are being created have catapulted the business environment to places thought to be impossible. The industries that could potentially benefit from these advancements through business reorganization range from manufacturing sites and accounting firms to insurance companies and even hospitals. An office has the ability to go from paper-filled desks, rows of filing cabinet, and stacks of file folders and binders, and transform into an orderly, organized, and spacious environment. Cluttered offices could potentially become a thing of the past through the explosion of electronic communications. The world of information technology has opened doors for businesses by providing opportunities to save money, save space and even improve client relationships. However, obstacles still hinder the paperless environment advancement. The obstacles that management faces when venturing toward the paperless environment now have little to do with role of technology, but are increasingly concerned with human resistance. The advancements that have taken place in the information technology empire over the years have greatly impacted the integrity, reliability, and trust that people place in the technology world. With developments such as the wireless world innovation and the tremendous advancements within the digital storage field, the notion of a
The idea of a company’s business operations venturing into a paperless environment from a paper-filled filing cabinet clutter is not a new concept. The aspiration for a paperless environment was conceived in the minds of management beginning over twenty years ago, dating back to manufacturers and the idea of paperless workstations. (Weber) Unfortunately, the businesses then were forced to delay paperless environment execution due to a lack of technological advancements. Since then, the world of information technology has boomed and the advancements and improvements that are being created have catapulted the business environment to places thought to be impossible. The industries that could potentially benefit from these advancements through business reorganization range from manufacturing sites and accounting firms to insurance companies and even hospitals. An office has the ability to go from paper-filled desks, rows of filing cabinet, and stacks of file folders and binders, and transform into an orderly, organized, and spacious environment. Cluttered offices could potentially become a thing of the past through the explosion of electronic communications. The world of information technology has opened doors for businesses by providing opportunities to save money, save space and even improve client relationships. However, obstacles still hinder the paperless environment advancement. The obstacles that management faces when venturing toward the paperless environment now have little to do with role of technology, but are increasingly concerned with human resistance. The advancements that have taken place in the information technology empire over the years have greatly impacted the integrity, reliability, and trust that people place in the technology world. With developments such as the wireless world innovation and the tremendous advancements within the digital storage field, the notion of a
Cited: Friedman, Gregory H. Going Paperless: An Advisor 's Perspective. November 2005. Journal of Financial Planning. <http://www.fpanet.org/journal/articles/2005_Issues/jfp1105-art5.cfm>. Larrivee, Bob. Going Paperless: Are We There Yet? January 2005. <http://www.aicpa.org/Magazines+and+Newsletters/Newsletters/The+Practicing+CPA/January+2005/going.htm>. MacQuarrie, Barry. "A Paperless Office or a World Series Title." May/June 2004. http://www.infotech.aicpa.org. <http://infotech.aicpa.org/Resources/Top+Technology+Initiatives/Top+10+Technologies+2004/Digital+Optimization/A+Paperless+Office+or+a+World+Series+Title.htm>. Stokdyk, John. www.accountingweb.co.uk. 15 September 2006. <http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=159559>. Weber, Austin. "Does Going Paperless Work?" Assembly (2007): 92-108.