Digital tools at my work
I work at The Biobank of Eastern Finland in Kuopio University Hospital. My role in the biobank is biomedical technologist and I also manage the laboratory’s daily tasks, like do a division of labor.
At first I thought that the only digital tool I use at work is the Microsoft Office package (outlook, teams, excel and so on), but then I asked google what digital tools contains and first result was:
”Digital tools are programs, websites, or online resources that can make tasks easier to complete. A lot of these can be accessed in web browsers without needing to be downloaded, and you can access them both at home and in work. Digital tools like websites, apps, and extensions, in conjunction with dynamic activities, create the ideal online learning experience. ” (https://www.createwebquest.com/digital-tools-function-and-features)
And based on this, I can say that I also work with website based LIMS (laboratory inventory management system) and we also have devices, that are controlled through website. I do not however can go to these websites from home, because they can be used only in the hospital’s secured, closed network.
At the Kuopio University Hospital we also use working time monitoring, Nepton, which can be used through website. There is also Moodle, used for orientation and training. And all human resources tasks, like absence notice, are informed vie internal intra, not in paper or via email.
Social media is also coming bigger to our everyday work after the brand renewal. The Kuopio University Hospital is trying to be open, approachable and to be close to all, by telling everyday things from different departments. But in my work at the biobank, social media is mainly used as information channel. You can find The Biobank of Eastern Finland on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Pros and cons of social media
When I think about the pros and cons of social media at my work, the first thing that comes to my mind is reputation. How to maintain a good reputation? On social media it takes only one misunderstood update and reputation may be damaged for a long time. But being away isn’t an option nowadays, so social media should be all about focusing the pros (and knowingly cons).
Social media gives visibility and accessibility. Through social media it’s possible to reach more people and faster than traditional ways, like news papers. Social media is a way to communicate news and information. But if you want the full advantage of social media, it’s very important to know the platform, what’s the target group of different medias, how to communicate and how to make yourself interesting for these specific groups.
What could I utilize if I could?
In the hospital environment it’s a bit difficult to use what I want. For example, Teams contains many apps, but we only have a few of them in use. So in this assignment I want to answer like there isn’t any restrictions.
Miro/Mural
Because of covid, working hybrid came in also to our workplace. I think working hybrid is still working out it’s form. Miro or Mural could be worth trying for to improve co-working hybrid.
Issuu
Using Issuu we could improve our contents in social media to be even better.
Blogger
Using Blogger we could improve our blogs and have them all in the same place.
Asana/Monday/Todoist
There was many links to different project management apps. Project management, even small ones, has to be in control. Many times issue with project management apps is that they aren’t working properly for variable projects. Finding out the best one for us needs deeper investigation.
Doodle
Doodle is a useful way to create an inquiry for to find out common date, if people are from different organisations.
Successful use of digital application
I think successful use comes from ease. Digital application must be informationally enough itself, so that you don’t need separate guide for using it. Digital application must be so easy to use, that if you are’t used it before or if you are in a digitalization gap, you can still easily use it.
Self evaluation
In this assignment I got to know digital tools that I had never heard of. Today it’s so easy to use many tools at the same time, but there is also danger that information gets fragmented. So I think at work it’s very important to have a clear idea, which tool to use for which purpose. In the future I just have to be curious and open to new digital tools that come along.