Title: Computer usage and training: a measure of white-collar productivity

Authors: Donna Newhart

Addresses: The School of Business, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina, USA

Abstract: Modern technology has offered significant potential for the improvement of performance by white-collar workers. To determine the effects of computer training and usage on white-collar performance, a study was conducted to evaluate 144 workers from eight insurance companies in the Atlanta, Georgia, area of the United States of America. There were no significant differences in the performance ratings that were attributable to the level of employment, to whether the workers were or were not computer users, or to the amount of computer training they had received. The only significant result was found in the type of computer training among users: programs including keyboarding/typewriting showed significantly higher performance ratings. Two principal conclusions were derived from the study. First, a large majority of all participants were computer users; and secondly, it is evident that all computer training programmes should include instruction in keyboarding/typewriting with software applications.

Keywords: computer training; computer usage; insurance industry; white collar productivity; white collar workers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1991.062576

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1991 Vol.4 No.3, pp.183 - 188

Published online: 10 Jun 2014 *

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