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Chapter 6

Technology and People at Work

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Learning Objectives

Trace the evolution of technology from the handicraft era to the cybernated technology stage.

Identify and describe the four major characteristics of a postindustrial society.

Discuss the effect of technology on organizational culture.

Identify and describe four ways employees feel alienated by technology.

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Learning Objectives (contd.)

Explain how technology can cause workers to fear their replacement by machines.

Discuss how knowledge-based organizations, industrial democracy, and participative management can aid in integrating technology and the organization’s personnel.

Discuss workplace violence and how mangers are dealing with it.

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The Evolution of Technology

1. The handicraft era was characterized by self-sufficiency

2. The mechanization era saw the use of machine labor

3. Mechanistic technology brought the assembly line

4. Automated technology modernized the assembly line

5. With cybernated technology, machines run other machines

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The Transition to a Postindustrial Society

1. A service-oriented workforce

2. A dynamic increase in the number of professional and technical workers

3. An increase in the importance of theoretical knowledge

4. The planning and controlling of technological growth

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Technology at Work

Technology is causing a change in people’s values, which workers bring with them to the workplace

Technology is leading to changes in the work environment, from the machines people use in creating output and making decisions to the way in which workers’ offices and workstations are designed

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The People-Work Environment-Technology Interface

Changing organizational cultures Alienation in the workplace Workers’ fear of replacement by

machines How workers feels about their jobs The quality of one’s work life

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Organizational Culture

Organizational culture is the environment in which people work

Cultural match is the similarity between individual and organizational culture

Individual culture is the norms, attitudes, values, and beliefs that a person brings to the job

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Technology and Alienation

1. Powerlessness is a feeling of being at the mercy of technology

2. Meaninglessness is the feeling of doing work that has no personal value

3. Isolation occurs when people are confined to one particular work locale

4. Self-estrangement is characterized by a lack of intrinsic job satisfaction

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Ergonomics

Ergonomics is concerned with redesigning the physical environment to meet the needs of personnel

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Resource-and Knowledge-Based Organizations

A resource-based organization focuses on providing needed physical assets

A knowledge-based organization relies on information sharing, teamwork, trust, and empowerment

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Industrial Democracy and Participative Management

Industrial democracy is a formal sanctioning of worker representation in the decision-making process

Participative management is an informal style of face-to-face leadership in which the workers share decision-making authority

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Empowerment

… gives the employees control over decisions and policies that directly affect them

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Basic Ideas of Empowerment

Giving employees greater authority to make decisions

Maintaining an open and decentralized communication system

Drawing on people from many different departments to solve complex organizational problems

Rewarding and recognizing those who assume responsibility and perform well

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Workplace Violence

… is any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting

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Key Terms in the Chapter

Future shock Handicraft era Mechanization era Mechanistic technology Automated technology Cybernated technology Postindustrial society Organizational culture Cultural match Individual culture Powerlessness

Meaninglessness Isolation Self-estrangement Ergonomics Resource-based org. Knowledge-based org. Industrial democracy Participative management Empowerment Workplace violence