Technology, Power, and the Social Organization of Work: Toward a Pragmatic Theory of Skilling and Deskilling
Author(s)
Barley, Stephen R.
Abstract
Technology changes in the workplace, such as microelectronics, genetic engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence, promise to transform not just occupational structure but all of Western society. Two sociological theories have emerged that most influence current notions of how technology alters the organization of work: sociology of automation and deskilling theory. However, these perspectives fail to capture adequately the multiple, subtle ramifications of technical change, and tend to view technology as either a physical or a social object. A fuller understanding of technological change would consider both the physical form of a given technology, its relationship to workplace organization, and its capacity to alter the balance of power among individuals or groups in the workplace.
