Rethinking Office Automation

Abstract:     
The debate regarding the impact of technology on work organizationand the quality of work life is gaining momentum as a result ofoffice automation and its influence on large numbers of "officeâ¬Â?jobs. This paper argues that current approaches to implementation ofoffice automation technology are based on faulty assumptions aboutboth technology and work organization. The result has been systemswhich fail to live up to the claims of dramatic increases inproductivity that typically accompany their implementation. Thepaper compares information technology to production technology andreviews relevant research on impacts of technology on workorganization and management control. An approach to theimplementation of office automation systems is proposed, which isbased on a new concept of "offices" and "office workâ¬Â?. Inessence, technology is the facilitator of a wider range of choices inorganization and control of office work than was previously possible.When these new choices are considered, the technology can be appliedto both improve organizational productivity and effectiveness and toaccommodate employeesâ¬Â" needs for flexibility and a high quality worklife.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 34

working papers series