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TECHNOLOGY AND FLEXIBILITY
Technology
as a means to facilitate the production of goods and services has always
been with us. Technology describes systems of production on which
all human beings depend, to a greater or lesser extent. These systems
range on a continuum from the very primitive basic tools to the very
sophisticated micro-electronics.
Our
focus in this course is on technology and technological change during the
twentieth century within industrialised societies. We look at the dominant
production systems and their effects upon people who work with them. In
particular, we examine some of the debates concerning the major twentieth
century technological development within the workplace. This is the system
of mass production, or extreme specialisation, and its implications
for workforce and management. We look at the technological developments
which may supersede mass production and the controversies concerning these
developments.
We
start with the problem of definition and then move on to a consideration
of Fordism. We look at the concept of alienation in relation to technology
and the important contribution of the American researcher, Blauner. We
then go on to deal with post-Fordism and flexible specialisation. Finally,
we examine new technology and its impact upon manufacturing and the
office.
After participating in this course, you should be
able to:
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define
technology and identify different types of mechanisation.
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identify some
of reasons for technological change.
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describe what
Durkheim identified as the fundamental differences in
technological and social organisation between
a pre-industrial and an industrial society.
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describe the
impact of division of labour upon an industrial society.
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define
Fordism and outline its production system.
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identify the
advantages, drawbacks and limitations of Fordism.
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relate Marx’s
concept of alienation to work in modern technological
settings.
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describe the
work and conclusions of Blauner on alienation, along with
some assumptions and limitations of
technological determinism.
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explain the
relationship between control, de-skilling and technological
change in labour process theory, and identify
some of the theory’s limitations.
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identify in a
contemporary industrial example the characteristics of post-
Fordism.
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describe how
work and technology are developing in the view of flexibility
theorists, the reasons they see for this, and
the likely effects for employees and organisational management.
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describe some
criticisms of flexibility theory and outline some of the
drawbacks and limits to flexibility.
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describe the
characteristic features of new technology.
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explain how
new technology can increase skill requirements and improve
the quality of working life.
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describe
convergence theory and its implications in basic terms.
Course Content
Introduction
Objectives
Section 1
Technology at Work and Technological Change
Technology: definitions and perspectives
Imperatives of technology
Division of labour
Scientific management: contributions of
Adam Smith and Charles Babbage
Contribution of F W Taylor
Section 2 Emergence of Fordism
Henry Ford’s system
Section 3 Alienation and De-skilling
Marx and alienation
Alienation after Marx
Technology and alienation: the Blauner study
De-skilling: technological development as
a means of control
Section 4 After Fordism
Post-Fordism
Flexible specialisation examined
The
flexible firm
Criticisms and evaluation of theories
of flexibility
Further evidence on flexible labour
approaches
Limits to flexibility
Flexibility: the future - a review of the
post-Fordist debate
Section 5 New Technology and Work Organisation
Evolution of new work
technology
Information technology and its uses
Replacement or compensation
Impact of new technology upon
manufacturing
Impact
of new technology in the office
Summary
Tutor-marked Question Paper
Qualification:
Certificate of Completion in Technology and
Flexibility
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