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Technology, Power, and the Social Organization of Work: Toward a Pragmatic Theory of Skilling and Deskilling

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Technology, Power, and the Social Organization of Work: Toward a Pragmatic Theory of Skilling and Deskilling
Author(s)Barley, Stephen R.
AbstractTechnology 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.
Pages33-80
IssueNo
ArticleAccess to Article Summary Article
SourceResearch in the Sociology of Organizations
VolumeNo6
PubDate1988
ISBN_ISSN0733-558X

Frontier Issues in Economic Thought

  • Volume 1: A Survey of Ecological Economics
  • Volume 2: The Consumer Society
  • Volume 3: Human Well-Being and Economic Goals
  • Volume 4: The Changing Nature of Work
  • Volume 5: The Political Economy of Inequality
  • Volume 6: A Survey of Sustainable Development


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