Can Computers Really Support Efficiency On The Working Front Line?

Abstract

The research study seeks to investigate the transition of going from a paper-based system to a mobile dynamic system, and the effect it has on the company in terms of efficiency. The aim is to gain an understanding of the opinions of the end users in terms of the change, in addition to the opinions, interviews to gain an understanding of the underpinning rationale behind the changeover from the different systems. The paper focuses on an air treatment company and the end users, 80 engineers. The interviews and questionnaires have an application of qualitative thematic analysis, looking for trends in the answers. This is cross-examined with existing research outlined in the literature review to see if the findings coincide or if they contradict one another. The changeover was found to be effective, in terms of paperwork being processed quicker, which was one of the main rationales behind the change in the first instance. However, the data collected from the mobile system after the one month implementation found data suggested that the system was not working how the company would have preferred, suggesting that if the way things were being carried out was to continue, there would be prospective losses of just over £500,000. This has an implication to research as a method of seeing what an existing company is conducting, and how this can be applied to other companies, to learn from the mistakes, if any, carried out by the case study. The motivation for this research was triggered by a months work experience at the place of work by the student. During this month, the student was offered hands on experience of observing the change over from the paper-based system to the mobile dynamic system. Something that many undergraduates are unable to experience until they are in that situation themselves.