Soft technology is a type of technology that refers to technological knowledge of an organizational, administrative and marketing nature. Soft technologies are intangible (they cannot be touched, they are soft), this contrasts with hard technologies that are usually tangible (they can be touched, they are hard). Hard technologies in general need, in order to be developed and used, soft technology beforehand.
In other words, soft technologies refer to know-how (knowing how to do something), methodologies, knowledge, learning, disciplines and/or skills for the development of products and services as a result.
Undoubtedly the clearest example of soft technology is the «software» for the «hardware» (hard technology) of a computer.
Soft technologies are applied in administration, organization, marketing, accounting, software development, education, management control, quality control, software development, etc.
Soft technologies often have the following objectives:
– Improve social dynamics in business, industrial, commercial, service and even non-profit organizations.
– Optimize business management or public or private administration. Even political leadership.
– Improve the general functioning of a service, factory, company or institution.
Concrete examples of soft technologies
– Marketing techniques for a company to sell more products or services, or to improve the image of this company that society has.
– Management methodologies to make more efficient use of resources available to a company.
– Technologies used to manage expenses and income in state agencies or private companies.
– The software of a computer.
– Methodologies and applied psychology so that employees are more comfortable in their jobs. For example, in the Google company, its employees have entertainment areas with hammocks or children’s games, because it has been shown that these distractions later allow them to improve concentration and achieve more efficiency in their work, resulting in better ideas and, as a final objective, improving company profits.
– Food preservation techniques in a community of farmers.
– Training techniques in wildlife management.
– Technologies for selection, control and supervision of employees in a company.
Related:
technology
hard technology
Quote the definition:
Alegsa.com.ar (2016). definition of soft technology – ALEGSA 2016-08-02 url: https:///Dic/tecnologia suave.php
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