critical perspectives on the impact of digital transformation of org on society

Question 1

technology

Answer 1

=incorporations of knowledge into artifacts that can be used to solve problems

2 faces:
- contributing to societal issues
- advancing welfare and wellbeing

Question 2

perspectives of technology

Answer 2

instrumental, value-laden, relationally agentic

Question 3

instrumental perspective

Answer 3

focus on object
tech as a way to solve a problem
focus on working well and faster
tech just the outcome of the quest for increased economic or functional superiority

perspectives on development:
- technological determinism- inevitable tech development- only the most appropriate innovations survive

• techno-optimism- can solve any problem with tech
• technological solutionism- western obsession with tech- trying to solve non-existent problems, this being the problem

Critics:
naive and unfounded
reductionist response to complex problems

Question 4

value-laden perspective

Answer 4

focus on construction
outcome of the social, cultural and political factors, interests and struggles
not neutral
which values and whose interests had tech come to emulate? whose interests are embodied, neglected or suppressed?
outcome of social action
infused with values of whoever created it
can be used in the exercise of power
flexibility in interpretation of tech
search or struggle in which stakeholder to stabilise design accordingly to their preferences, values
closure around a specific form and function
one set of preferences emerges as the winner- eg keyboard, chatgpt, ai

Question 5

relationally agentic perspective

Answer 5

how do these values play out in the status quo?/ understanding and exposing the agency tech is pre-requisite for change/can it be contested, disrupted or change?
focus on the process
capacity to influence social life, maintain hegemony
maintain social order
process in which the object plays a role
objects are not independent, but operate in relation to and influence other people, things, ideas
influencing the social order in a dynamic way

Question 6

tensions and technology

Answer 6

even though it can help people, it does not take into consideration the values of people using technology, the people are cut out of the system

right to repair- anyone should be able to repair equipment