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You have recently started working for a local department store in the Operations Department. Upon settling into your new position, you come to realize that they have outdated business practices. In your past work experience, you have utilized various forms of technology to complete daily job functions and have been part of updating technology to meet the demands of your organization. Technological advances can address all areas of the business including, but not limited to, how applicants apply for positions, the type of phone and computer systems operated, cash register functions, marketing methods, etc.

You have shared your thoughts with your supervisor, and he has tasked you with putting together a narrated presentation, with visuals for your peers, to share the overall benefits of utilizing modern technology to help improve overall efficiency for the business and help to expand the consumer base for the store. For this narrated visual presentation, you are to reflect upon and include discussion of the following topics or categories:

Paper For Above instruction

Demonstrate how digital and technological growth can assist the organization: Provide a definition for digital growth. Explain how digital growth has impacted organizations. Describe how digital growth impacts society as a whole and your store in the future.

Impact on Identity: Demonstrate how an individual creates their own digital identity, how it can impact organizational identity, and how these can be impacted by changes to technology. Explain some key methods of identity development. How can technology and digital forums help with personal or organizational identity formation? What do individuals and employees as a whole have to do with developing the identity of an organization?

Challenges and Benefits of Upgrading Technology: Describe main sociological theories that can describe an individual or a store's ability to access technological resources. Identify some key examples of societal change due to technology. What does this imply for your store?

The Digital Divide: Explain what the digital divide is and how it can impact the use of technology in your store.

Sociological Perspectives on Technological Change: Examine your organization through a sociological perspective and explain benefits of change to the organization. Conflict Theory - How is it defined and how would a Conflict Theorist justify upgrades in technology? Symbolic Interaction Theory - How is it defined and how would a Symbolic Interactionist justify or explain the need for upgrades to technology? Outline additional theories that can help explain the need for technological growth at your store.

Language and Communication in Technology: Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the evolution of language within online environments and with the use of enhanced technology. Examine some of the changes to technology that have impact language and communication. Discuss differences in access to and familiarity with technology such as generational differences, socioeconomic differences, etc. How might this impact your store? Consider how communication could change within your store for employees and consumers with various types of technology.

Deviance in Physical and Virtual Worlds: Demonstrate how deviance in the physical and virtual world could impact your store. Provide a definition of deviance in both contexts. Explain how deviant behaviors have led to changes at your store and what considerations should be taken into account when upgrading technology. Consider Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interaction Theory and how they would explain deviance and a method to overcome it at your store.

Finally, provide a summary that directly ties together your visuals and discussion points, emphasizing the overall benefits of updating technological resources to help the store run more efficiently.

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The rapid advancement of digital technology profoundly influences organizational practices, societal norms, and individual identities. Digital growth encompasses the expansion and integration of digital technologies in various sectors, leading to significant transformation across businesses, communities, and personal interactions. In the context of a local department store, embracing technological growth is essential for maintaining competitiveness, improving operational efficiency, and expanding market reach.

Digital growth can be defined as the process by which organizations and societies adopt, develop, and integrate digital technologies—such as cloud computing, e-commerce platforms, social media, and data analytics—to enhance their capabilities. For businesses, especially retail establishments like department stores, digital growth translates into streamlining supply chain management, enhancing customer service through online platforms, and utilizing data-driven marketing strategies. Such integration can lead to increased sales, improved customer satisfaction, and broader consumer engagement.

The impact of digital growth on organizations has been profound. It has enabled businesses to operate more efficiently by automating routine tasks, enabling real-time decision-making, and fostering innovation in products and services (Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2014). For example, online inventory management reduces manual errors, while digital payment systems speed up the checkout process, enhancing overall customer experience. Consequently, organizations that leverage technology gain a competitive advantage by responding swiftly to market changes and customer demands.

Beyond organizational boundaries, digital growth influences society by altering communication norms, social interactions, and cultural behaviors. The proliferation of social media platforms and instant messaging applications has transformed the way individuals connect, sharing ideas and information instantaneously (Castells, 2010). In the future, a store that adopts digital technologies can foster stronger community ties through targeted online campaigns and personalized shopping experiences. It can also adapt to societal shifts such as increased mobile device usage and expectations for seamless digital interactions.

The creation of a digital identity involves individuals developing online profiles through social media, email, and other digital services. This identity reflects personal preferences, values, and social connections, influencing how others perceive us in both virtual and real-world contexts (Goffman, 1959). For organizations, digital identity encompasses branding, customer engagement, and online reputation management. Changes in technology, like social networking or augmented reality, can enhance or challenge these identities by providing new avenues for expression and interaction.

Methods of identity development include consistent branding, active online engagement, and content sharing that align with personal and organizational values. Technology and digital forums facilitate identity formation by enabling self-expression, networking, and reputation building (Turkle, 2011). Employees contribute to shaping the organizational identity through their online interactions, customer service behaviors, and participation in corporate social responsibility initiatives. As technology evolves, both individual and organizational identities adapt, reflecting broader societal values and innovations.

Upgrading technological resources presents both challenges and benefits. Sociological theories offer insights into these dynamics. Conflict theory posits that technological upgrades can exacerbate inequalities, favoring those with access and resources while marginalizing others (Marx, 1867). For stores, this might mean smaller competitors or less tech-savvy employees struggle to adapt. Conversely, societal changes driven by technology—such as increased gig economy roles or digital literacy initiatives—highlight the importance of equitable access (Fuchs, 2017). For the store, embracing technology must consider these societal shifts to ensure inclusive growth.

The digital divide refers to disparities in access to digital technology across different socioeconomic, geographic, and demographic groups (Van Dijk, 2006). In a retail setting, this divide could result in certain customer segments or employees lacking the necessary devices or skills, leading to unequal service delivery or employment opportunities. Addressing the digital divide involves implementing inclusive technology policies, providing training, and ensuring affordable access—crucial steps for the store’s success in a digitally driven market.

From a sociological perspective, conflict theory justifies technological upgrades as necessary for reducing inequalities and fostering social cohesion. Conflict theorists argue that technological advancement can challenge existing power structures if implemented equitably (Marx, 1867). Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the importance of everyday interactions and shared meanings; technological upgrades can enhance communication and social bonds within the store (Blumer, 1969). Other relevant theories include modernization theory, which advocates for technological progress as a pathway to social development, and systems theory, which considers the interconnectedness of technological change within organizational structures.

Technology has also profoundly impacted language and communication, especially in online environments. The rise of social media, emojis, and internet slang has transformed communication styles, often favoring brevity and immediacy (Crystal, 2011). Generational differences influence familiarity with these tools; younger employees may adapt more quickly, while older staff may require training. Socioeconomic factors also affect access and proficiency, impacting the inclusivity and effectiveness of internal and external communication within the store. Adapting communication strategies to accommodate technological diversity ensures smoother interactions among staff and with customers.

Deviance—behavior that diverges from societal norms—exists both in physical and virtual worlds. In the store context, physical deviance might include theft, vandalism, or workplace misconduct, while virtual deviance could involve online harassment, data breaches, or misuse of digital platforms (Braithwaite & Makkai, 2004). Such behaviors necessitate technological solutions, like security systems and monitoring tools, but also require policies aligned with societal values. Technological upgrades should incorporate measures to prevent and address deviant behavior, and sociological theories like conflict theory and symbolic interactionism help explain, justify, and manage deviance.

Conflict theory suggests that deviance often arises from conflicts over power and resources, and addressing deviance may involve restructuring organizational norms and distribution of power (Marx, 1867). Symbolic interactionism examines how social interactions and shared meanings influence perceptions of deviance; communication about acceptable behaviors and shared organizational values can reduce deviant acts (Blumer, 1969). Implementing technology to monitor, prevent, and address deviance in ethical and sensitive ways can promote a safer and more inclusive store environment while upholding organizational integrity.

In conclusion, updating technological resources within the store offers numerous benefits, including increased efficiency, broader customer engagement, improved communication, and a more inclusive environment. When integrating new technologies, it is vital to consider theoretical perspectives, societal impacts, and ethical considerations related to deviance and inequality. Embracing technological growth prepares the store for future challenges and opportunities, ultimately fostering a resilient, innovative, and socially responsible organization.

References

• Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism. In G. Ritzer (Ed.), The Blackwell dictionary of sociology (pp. 557-558). Blackwell.
• Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Castells, M. (2010). The rise of the network society: The information age: Economy, society, and culture (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
• Crystal, D. (2011). Language and the internet. Cambridge University Press.
• Fuchs, C. (2017). Digital labor and platforms in social media. In C. Fuchs, & M. Boersma (Eds.), Digital Labor and Platforms (pp. 45-66). Routledge.
• Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Doubleday.
• Marx, K. (1867). Capital: A critique of political economy. Penguin Classics.
• Fuchs, C. (2017). Digital labor and platforms in social media. Routledge.
• Turkle, S. (2011). Alone together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other. Basic Books.
• Van Dijk, J. (2006). The network society: Social aspects of new media. Sage Publications.