The Darkside of Digital Transformation

Question 1

what is meant by ‘technological determinism’?

Answer 1

technology as a driver of societal development but ignores people as users and shapers of technology.

Question 2

what is meant. by ‘strategic choice’?

Answer 2

technology as a malleable resource that can be put to
a variety of uses (with a range of effects) depending on managerial or organizational strategies, ideologies, and political dynamics.

Question 3

what are the perspectives on technological change? (2)

Answer 3

1. technological determinism
2. strategic choice

Question 4

what are the pitfalls of technological determinism?

Answer 4

-reduces human agency (reduces role played in shaping the use and impacts of technology)
-ignores social and cultural contexts (fails to account for how different societies adopt and adapt technology based on their unique needs, values and histories)
-oversimplifies complex interactions (by attributing societal chnages solely to technological innovation, it simplifies the complex interplay between various societal factors e.g politics)

Question 5

navigating different types of technological changes:

Answer 5

-anticipated changes (proactive planning + risk assessment)
-emergent (unintended) changes (agility in response + continuous learning)
-opportunity-based changes (dynamic replanning + innovative thinking)

Question 6

what does the ‘dark side’ of digital transformation refer to?

Answer 6

the range of unintended and often harmful outcomes that accompany the integration of digital technologies into societal, organisational, and personal domain

Question 7

what can the rapid adoption of digital transformation do?

Answer 7

disrupt social norms, exacerbate inequalities, and compromise privacy.

Question 8

what are the dimensions of digital transformation? (3)

Answer 8

-societal impacts (how it reshapes economies, enhances or worsens inequalities, and changes social interactions)
-organisational impacts (effects on business processes, employee relations, and organisational ethics)
-individual impacts (personal privacy, job displacement, and psychological effects on individuals)

Question 9

what are some of the positive outcomes of digital transformation?

Answer 9

-Open Source Software Movement: Enhances
collaboration and innovation, allowing developers worldwide to contribute to and improve software solutions.
-Commons-Based Peer Production (CBPP):
Platforms like Wikipedia exemplify how digital tools
can mobilize collective knowledge creation.
-Access to Information: Digital technologies have
vastly increased access to information, breaking
down geographical and socio-economic barriers.
-Empowerment of Individuals: Tools like social
media empower individual expression and political mobilisation across the globe