Soft technology features, applications and examples

The soft technology refers to technological knowledge, non-tangible material, for 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 environments in a satisfactory way. Technological advancement processes and their study methodologies have led to the classification of technologies in different categories.

However, some scholars argue that it is not technology that should be classified, but technology products. In any case, one of the most shared categories of analysis is the distinction between hard and soft technologies..

Soft technologies are intangible and are oriented to the efficiency of the operation in institutions and organizations. On the other hand, hard technologies encompass specific products aimed at the production of materials or objects.

Article index

• 1 Characteristics of balnda technology
• 2 Areas of application
• 3 Examples of soft technology
• 4 Differences with hard technology
  • 4.1 Physical processes
  • 4.2 Chemical and / or biological processes
  • 4.3 Examples of hard technologies
• 5 References

Balnda technology features

- Soft technology differs from hard technology because it is linked to technological know-how.

- They are non-tangible elements that are used in the field of administration or in organizational processes. It encompasses “knowing how to do”. The use of soft technology is required to be able to produce hard technology goods.

- Soft technology has the mission of optimizing the general operation of any type of organization or institution. Applies to services, factories, state, religious, educational and business entities.

- It 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 production 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 soft technology application areas 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 take into account human relationships for the design of soft technologies.

Within 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 clients or make invoices.
• Educational teaching techniques.
• Grape growing techniques in a community cooperative.
• Personnel selection methodologies or techniques.
• Methods of teamwork, work environment management or work-life balance. For example, on Netflix they let their employees choose when to take their vacations.
• Marketing tools. Product design, distribution and promotion processes implement designs with applied soft technologies.
• Administration tools. The management of organizations and institutions use 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 the 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 economics involves tools from soft technologies, both from the global economy and from the domestic economy..
• Economic projections. The results of the management of organizations can project their planning 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 new processes to be implemented..
• Software for mathematical operations. Although the calculator is a hard technology asset, the processes it performs and how to display them is 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

This category includes mechanical, electrical, industrial, electronic, robotic, flexible production and integrated systems technologies. Computer hardware is hard technology.

Chemical and / or biological processes

These processes are applied in food, drug, 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 computing, 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

1. Auerbach, S. M., Carrado, K. A., & Dutta, P. K. (2003). Handbook of Zeolite Science and Technology. CRC Press.
2. Buch, T. (1999). Technological systems. Buenos Aires: Editorial Aique.
3. Ciapuscio, H. (1999). About us & technology. Buenos Aires: Edit. Agora.
4. Morris, C. G. (1992). Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology. Gulf Professional Publishing.
5. Williams, T. I. (1982 and 1987). History of Technology 4. From 1900 to 1950. Madrid: Twenty-first Century of Spain Editores.