Technology is a broad term that includes all tools used to enhance human life and solve problems. It can be applied to tangible objects such as utensils or machines, or to intangible ones like software and information systems. Technology improves the quality of human life and can be a catalyst for societal changes. It can also be a burden when not properly utilized and abused.
Most technologies are complex enough that their designers, builders, operators, and users require sophisticated general and specific training. This is why it is rare that a scientific result or engineering design leads directly to a technology that can be used. Instead, they develop step by step. Each step validates the underlying principles and tests them against reality.
Often, the development of new technologies can be accelerated by applying them to existing systems and devices. This is known as incremental technology. It is an important aspect of the development of any technological system, and it helps organizations save time and money while ensuring a high level of quality and accuracy in their outputs.
Another way that technology is important to business productivity is through automation. Many tasks that would normally take a lot of manual labor and attention to detail can be done with the help of automated systems. These systems are able to work faster than humans and they can also provide greater accuracy when it comes to data processing. Using the right kind of automation tools can greatly boost productivity in an organization.