Cyber cynicism hinders manufacturing sector

London – Figures just released suggest that ‘cyber cynicism’ is taking hold across organisations in the manufacturing sector, as employers fail to capitalise on the business benefits offered by technology. The data, issued by the Chartered Management Institute, confirms long-held views about ‘internet policing’ and indicates that the failure to allow widespread use of technology will hinder business in the long-run.

Based on qualitative and quantitative research aged 35 and under, the research reveals that employers across the manufacturing sector view Internet activity as a ‘massive timewaster’. Nearly two-thirds (61%) monitor employee internet access and 55% block ‘inappropriate’ websites. A significant number (11%) also retain tight control over access by imposing curfews on internet usage.

This high level of policing comes against a backdrop of enthusiasm for Internet-based applications amongst employees in the manufacturing sector. Asked to highlight why they want to use the Internet, the majority focused on its use ‘for professional development’ (66 per cent). Half (50%) claimed freedom to use the Internet is ‘useful for research’ and 30% argued it helps ‘for doing work’.

The data, published in association with Ordnance Survey, also reveals different usage patterns according to age group. For example, 67% of those under 25 have ‘read a forum’ in the past 3 months, compared to just 51% of those aged over 30. Two-thirds (69%) of those aged 25 or under have watched videos online (work or otherwise), compared to 54% of individuals aged 30 plus. With evidence also suggesting respondents want to use business networking sites such as LinkedIn (5% for both managers and students), the implication is that employers must change their attitude towards technology, or risk alienating their future managers and leaders.

Jo Causon, director, marketing and corporate affairs at the Chartered Management Institute, said: “Younger managers are growing up with much greater familiarity of technology and are comfortable using technologies such as mobile video, TV on-demand, or information services such as Google and Wikipedia. Quite clearly, organisations need to harness the comfort levels these individuals have with Internet-based resources, because failure to do so will lead to frustration and the loss of top talent at best, or worse, an open door for competitors to build advantage through a better equipped and enabled workforce.”

Analysis of the data confirms that many respondents believe their enthusiasm for web-based technology is not yet matched by employers. Just 5% in the sector claim their organisation ‘falls in love with the latest trend’ and 47% say their employer only ‘takes up things once they’re tried and tested’. Worryingly 18% go as far as describing their employer as ‘dinosaurs’.

Asked to elaborate on ‘corporate usage’ it becomes clear that many organisations in the manufacturing sector are slow to adopt new Internet (Web 2.0) technology. Although 97% use email or communicate with staff via intranets (65%) only small proportions are happy to use web-based applications such as Google Docs (32%), organisational message boards (14%) or web-casting (6%).

Jan Hutchinson, director of HR & corporate services at Ordnance Survey, commented: “The low level adoption of new technology is in tandem with employers’ belief that Internet usage is a ‘time waster’. It’s something that must be looked at because the longer this situation is allowed to remain unchallenged, the greater the likelihood UK employers will fall behind their international competitors.”

The findings come in the wake of wider research showing how so-called ‘new media’ learning is growing in popularity. A report called ‘Learning at Work: evolution or revolution’ revealed that 51% of directors now say they use online videos to develop new skills (up from 21% 12 months ago) and one-third (34%) also use social networking sites to boost their knowledge, compared to just 12%, last year.