Technology

Question 1

Piore and Zuboff (1982 & 1988)

Answer 1

Technology and ICT involve
Degrees of flexible thinking
Theoretical and analytical skills

Question 2

Technology has helped to reskill……

Answer 2

Improvement in ICT skills
Education
Creates new improved products
Machines must be understood and programmed

Question 3

Technology hasn’t helped to reskill…..

Answer 3

Doesn’t affect all sectors
Studies done in 1980s?
Skilled workers to start with?

Question 4

Marx’s view of technology and alienation

Answer 4

Increase in alienation since industrialisation
Separation from society
No social cohesion/solidarity
Loss of pride in job/job is only for money/income.
Fordist Production Line (1920-1970)

Question 5

Deskilling

Answer 5

Production is broken down into smaller steps that require a small amount of training

Question 6

Deskilling is good because….

Answer 6

Quicker
Cheaper- increase in profit
Higher quality of work

Question 7

Deskilling is bad because…..

Answer 7

Workers become demotivated
Company experience strikes, lower productivity and unrest
Rise in absenteeism

Question 8

Worklessness

Answer 8

Out of work and economically inactive e.g. sick, students, disabled, carers, retired.
Statistically higher incidences of crime, fatalistic attitudes, mental health, death

Question 9

Unemployment

Answer 9

Out of work but actively seeking a job

Question 10

Emotional Labour

Answer 10

Workers must manage their feelings according to organisation’s guidelines
Companies tell you how to interact with each other leading to alienation

Question 11

Standing (2011)

Answer 11

Precariat- social class suffering from unstable jobs or low job security, affecting their material and psychological welfare

Question 12

Blauner (1964)

Answer 12

Alineation is caused by technology- study of attitudes of manual workers across different industries

• Degree of control workers have over their work
• Degree of meaning
• Degree of social integration
• Degree of involvement in work