OFFICE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Since the development of the microchip, office equipment and systems incorporating the new technology have been rapidly produced and made available. Although application of Information Technology to office work is in its early stages in Singapore, the availability and potential are widely recognised. At present, the lack of empirical research determining the categories of the office sector that the information technology will affect and its property consequences have resulted in a confusing situation, as a number of conflicting scenarios have been advanced with very different consequences on the office sector. Given the wide range of plausible but potentially incompatible opinions, it was felt important that further empirical evidence should be undertaken to fill up the vacuum in these two aspects of the impact of Information Technology. Empirical evidence adduced from a survey conducted for this purpose shows that the diffusion of Information Technology has generally varied between the economic sectors and among organisations, with the largest organisations often amongst the most technically advanced. In addition, headquarters of organisations are also found to be extensively automated in their office activities. The study indicated that the usage of microchip-based equipment has not resulted in a requirement for less space but rather a different utilisation of space. In part, flexibility in the office layout design was essential.