q3 technology on work Flashcards
intro
Zuboff found that whoever controls the labour process also controls how technology is used in the workplace. Technology can either de-skill the workforce or create more skilled work. EG. It can be used to control the workforce, with surveillance or give the workforce more flexibility in hours worked. The effects of technology will vary between workplaces and depend on how management decide to use technology
para 1 Deskilling/technology leads to the alienation of workers (negative)
Alienation is the situation whereby workers lack power and control at work, as skills are replaced by technology, the worker has no job satisfaction
Work becomes meaningless apart from means of earning money, the increased use of technology leads to instrumental attitudes in work whereby the most important thing about the job becomes the wage
Blauner: the degree of alienation and job satisfaction was influenced by the level of technology and extent of division of labour used.
For example, skilled craft workers had highest levels of job satisfaction as they had pride in their work, however, workers in routine jobs requiring little skill and fordist manner of production had high levels of alienation and instrumental approach
A03: Marxists argue that there is too much emphasis on technology as the cause of alienation. The real cause is capitalist ownership as workers have little control over labour process and don’t own the products they make as profits go to the capitalist owner
2 Technology can makes workers more independent (positive)
Can lead to workers having ‘responsible autonomy’ and it happens when workers can make decisions for themselves, have the option of working flexi hours and experience more teamwork
Piore says computer technology and flexible specialisation has increased job satisfaction as workers are multi skilled and involved in producing highly specialised products
EG at Microsoft, teams of workers are responsible for developing products, they are committed and responsible
A03: This high level of job satisfaction is only for a few highly skilled professionals. Most workers are powerless at work, with no control over decisions. Most employers have limited commitment to their workers, most work now is insecure.
3 technology leads to unemployment (negative)
Although automation removes some of the more repetitive and boring aspects of work, it does lead to technological unemployment
Is considered to be part of a wider concept known as structural unemployment. When these labour saving machines are introduced, a firm can get rid of workers and produce more goods than before
This lowers production costs and increases levels of production-> greater profits
With AI it is claimed that these machines could put more than half the world’s population out of a job. AI will lead to machines doing jobs that require more cognitive skills
A03: However, at the same time employment opportunities are on the surge for workers whose skills are complementary to new technology, for example workers skilled and educated in IT and engineering related disciplines
4 Technology makes work more flexible and specialised (positive)
Piore argues that assembly line Fordist techniques of production are out of date and the economy is now post-fordist
Computerisation makes work become flexible as the same machines can perform a range of tasks, giving firms flexibility to alter production lines to meet changing demands
This means workers need to become multi-skilled, adaptable workers who can perform a range of changing tasks and jobs
In automation, workers have responsibility for supervising and maintaining machinery, they can move around a factory and mix with others-> high levels of job satisfaction and low levels of alienation
Increase in intrinsic attitudes to work, high pay is noy seen as the only important reason for working
A03: For most workers, production has not become more skilled and more workers are now expected to perform a wider range of tasks requiring little skill
