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Socio-technical Systems Perspective

6 important questions on Socio-technical Systems Perspective

What are the optimistic assumptions of the discussions about the future of work?

Flexible ways of working (anywhere and anytime)
Empowerment and increased autonomy (more things in more flexible ways)
Overcoming boundaries for collaboration
Enhance decision making

What are some pessimistic assumptions of the future of work?

Increased unemployment
Inequality widening
Loss of value of human skills
Discrimination

What is wrong with these optimistic and pessimistic assumptions?

They are based on speculative scenarios of technology use, and based on properties and qualities technologies defined by the industry, not actual use and changes in work practices. They are limited and idealised conceptions of what constitutes "work" in practice.
Ignoring the interplay between the power of people to shape technology and unexpected effects technologies has on work

What is the technological determinism according to the paper?

Technological Determinism sees technology as an external independent phenomenon that determines or forces change in the social system.

Determinists focus on measuring and modeling the changes caused by technology, so that future changes can be predicted.

For example, the use of mainframe computers was tought of to increase centralisation and managerial authority. Instead, researchers has found that the same technology implemented in different companies can result in different outcomes.

Hence, technological determinism is not an effective approach of how organisational change processes are related to new technology!

What are the three insights that tell us more about the relationsip between technology and organisations to understand the digital economy a bit better, according to the chapter?

Technology is social, dynamic, and multiple
Technology must be used to have effect
Use of technology has unintended consequences

What is meant with Technology is social, dynamic, and multiple?

In short, technology is social because it is constructed by humans, so they reflect everything human.
They are dynamic because technologies always evolve when new materials or features are developed.
They are also multiple because technology often exists of different tools and configurations or components, often interconnected with other elements. For example, the Internet is not 'one thing'. No one envisioned how the worldwideweb (WWW) would develop itself when it was invented.