The soft technology refers to technological knowledge, non-tangible material, administrative or organizational use. This type of technology refers to know-how; knowledge, methodologies, disciplines or skills that allow the development of products or services.
Both soft and hard technology encompass scientifically ordered knowledge to develop goods or services that enable human adaptation to their media in a satisfactory manner. The processes of technological advance and their study methodologies have led to the classification of technologies in different categories.
However, some scholars argue that it is not the technology which should be classified, but technological products. In any case, one of the most common categories of analysis is the distinction between hard and soft technologies.
Soft technologies are intangible and are oriented to the efficiency of operation in institutions and organizations. In contrast, hard technologies include specific products aimed at the production of materials or objects.
Index
- 1 characteristics
- 2 Application areas
- 3 Examples of soft technology
- 4 Differences with hard technology
- 4.1 Examples of hard technologies
- 5 References
characteristics
- Soft technology differs from hard technology because it is linked to technological knowledge .
- They are non-tangible elements that are used in the field of administration or in the processes of organization. Encompasses the"know how". The use of soft technology is required to produce hard technology goods.
- The soft technology has the mission of optimizing the general functioning of any type of organization or institution. It applies to services, factories, state, religious, educational and business entities.
- Seeks to build efficient social dynamics within organizations. Through the optimal use of soft technologies, fluency in human resource designs can be developed. It can also be applied to each of the productive processes of any type of organization.
- It can also be applied in political and governmental organizations. Through its use, short and long-term objectives can be achieved in the execution of plans that directly or indirectly affect society.
Application areas
Some examples of areas of application of soft technology are:
- Education
- Administration.
- Accounting
- Organization.
- Operations.
- Statistics.
- Production logistics.
- Marketing.
- Software development.
- Social psychology.
- Work Psychology.
Examples of soft technology
Unlike hard technologies, soft technology is based on soft science. It is very important to consider human relations for the design of soft technologies.
In the framework of soft technologies, personnel management, psychology and sociology are studied. In computing, soft technologies are called software.
Some examples of soft technologies are:
-A program -software- to be more productive in teamwork.
-A program to manage customers or make invoices.
-Teaching educational techniques.
-Technics of growing grapes in a cooperative of a community.
-Methodologies or techniques of personnel selection.
-Methods of teamwork, management of work environment or work-life balance. For example, on Netflix they let their employees choose when to take vacations.
- Marketing tools. The processes of design, distribution and promotion of products implement designs with soft technologies applied.
- Administration tools. The management of organizations and institutions employ tools considered soft technology.
- Software development. In computing the development of operating systems, programs and applications is grouped as soft technology.
- Human Resources. Personnel management involves management processes of soft technologies available in organizations.
- Education Educational processes are considered soft technology in all areas of education: from educational institutions to the transmission of knowledge in specific areas.
- Macro and microeconomics. The administration and study of the economy involves tools of soft technologies, both global and domestic economy.
- Economic projections. The results of the management of organizations can project their plans through the use of soft technologies.
- Production logistics. The production processes must be planned through soft technologies to optimize their yields.
- Communication. There are multiple resources to create communication links at all organizational levels. These resources are considered soft technology.
- Accounting tools. Finances can be managed and controlled through tools categorized as soft technologies.
- Training. Soft technology is applied in training processes, both for new members of organizations and for the new processes to be implemented.
- Software for mathematical operations. Although the calculator is a hard technology asset, the processes it performs and the way it is displayed are considered soft technology.
- Statistics: The tools to know and forecast movements through quantitative and qualitative statistics are categorized as soft technologies.
Differences with hard technology
Hard technologies can be divided between physical processes and chemical and / or biological processes.
- Physical processes
In this category are grouped mechanical, electrical, industrial, electronic, robotic, flexible production and integrated systems. The hardware of a computer is hard technology.
- Chemical and / or biological processes
These processes are applied in food, medicine, agricultural and biotechnology technologies.
Examples of hard technologies
They usually require machinery and production tools. Currently these technologies are developed through serial processes in automated industries. In the field of information technology, hard technologies are included in hardware.
Some examples of hard technologies are:
- Car.
- Radio.
- Railway.
- Lamps.
- Rifle.
- Missile.
- Cellphones.
- Telegraph.
- Mills.
- Fire alarms.
- Hospital stretchers.
- Solar panels.
References
- Auerbach, S.M., Carrado, K.A., & Dutta, P.K. (2003). Handbook of Zeolite Science and Technology. CRC Press.
- Buch, T. (1999). Technological systems Buenos Aires: Editorial Aique.
- Ciapuscio, H. (1999). We & the technology. Buenos Aires: Edit. Agora.
- Morris, C. G. (1992). Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology. Gulf Professional Publishing.
- Williams, T. I. (1982 and 1987). History of Technology 4. From 1900 to 1950. Madrid: Siglo Veintiuno de España Editores.