TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGERIAL COMPETENCES

The rapid pace of technological change over the last decade has made a substantial impact on individuals, organizations and society as a whole. In particular, the management of organizations has been transformed by the availability of powerful, yet practical and convenient, micro-computers. Frequently, however, the non-technical ramifications of implementing new technologies have been overlooked or underestimated. In contrast, the socio-technical systems perspective incorporates technology, structure and social dynamics as interdependent components of any organization. Consideration of inter-relationships between these elements is essential for successful implementation of technological change. In particular, human resource management will be critical for the integration of technology with other facets of future organizational systems. This paper examines some of the human resource issues which will be critical for tomorrow's managers and discusses research findings from a study of the development of managerial skills. Management training must focus more attention on both formal and informal learning experiences, while organizations need to expend more energy creating cultures and climates which promote learning and skill acquisition.