TASK 6: Essay outline

Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?

                   I.            Introduction

1.      Can you picture the world without smartphones? People go into panic mode if he or she were to leave the house without these technological devices. Some people describe leaving their smartphones at home as "feeling naked." Smartphones have become part of the everyday lives of everyone in society.

2.      It’s also impossible to imagine a nowadays workplace without them. The major question is how they may affect our productivity. Do they help to perform tasks or only reduce our concentration?

                 II.            Body

1.      Explanations, assertions. Notifications (first point)

A.         The way of life in today's society has changed due to the introduction of smartphones. Therefore, employers need to pay attention to the benefits of smartphones and provide certain politics when these devices are used too often. Without a doubt, the indiscriminate use of smartphones negatively impacts the workplace.

B.          Everyone has notifications on his or her smartphone. It’s very annoying because it always takes you away from the activity you’re doing right now.

2.      Texting (second point)

A.         Nowadays we have an opportunity to stay in touch with our relatives and friends 24/7.

B.           Work chats distract us from offline communicating with colleagues

3.      Social media

A.         Modern society used to live in an infinite stream of information. Some people feel information detox if they don’t check social media once an hour.

B.                  Checking social media on a smartphone makes us obsessed with what everyone else is doing at the expense of the actual task in front of us.

4.      Opposing viewpoints

Smartphones provide the ability for employees and clients to communicate and contact one another quickly and efficiently. Before smartphones were introduced, contacting other customers and clients was not an easy issue.

              III.            Closing

To sum up, there are more distracting than useful points in using smartphones in the workplace all the time. I suppose that a company should provide certain policies and procedures that can control the usage of smartphones and other similar devices in the workplace.

Sources:

https://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-habits-that-are-ruining-your-productivity-2018-7#constantly-taking-out-your-smartphone-to-take-a-photo-can-keep-you-from-being-in-the-moment-2

https://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/article/workplace-productivity-in-an-era-of-smartphones