Question

The widespread use of the Internet has:

a) reduced the amount of time employees can spend on tasks that require deeper interpretation.
b) forced companies into focusing harder on developing a socially responsible image.
c) restricted negative information from spreading quickly and widely.
d) reduced the likelihood of culturally diverse people working together on a global team.
e) made organizations less accountable to society and removed them from public scrutiny.

Answer 1

The Internet has enhanced knowledge access and problem-solving, increased public accountability for organizations, and enabled global collaboration. It has both intensified competition and created new platforms for social change, suggesting nuanced impacts that go beyond the options provided in the question.

Step-by-step explanation:

The widespread use of the Internet and social media has had profound implications for businesses and society. Far from reducing employees' ability to engage in deep interpretation of tasks (option a), the Internet has enhanced access to knowledge and tools for complex problem solving. However, it has undoubtedly increased the visibility and rapid spread of both positive and negative information (options b and c), thus compelling companies to cultivate a socially responsible image.

Additionally, it has facilitated the rise of global teams and international collaborations (option d), expanding cultural diversity in the workplace. Lastly, rather than making organizations less accountable (option e), the Internet has increased transparency and public scrutiny, making organizations more accountable to society. Crowdsourcing and global connectivity have intensified competition, but they have also provided platforms for collaborative problem-solving and social change. Still, the challenge remains in ensuring that the benefits of the Internet are distributed equitably and responsibly, safeguarding against the potential for increased consumerism, misinformation, and privacy concerns.