Technology and the organization of work

The purpose of this chapter is to understand the relationship between technology and the organization of work. The decisions made by management over the introduction and use of new technologies clearly hold implications for the way work is organized and the way people are managed, which in turn reflect stra-tegic differences in the role of labour within production. Central to this chapter is the relationship between technology and the role of human labour within the production process: the extent to which technology enhances the role of human labour, acts as a control over labour to ensure the contribution of workers and may ultimately serve to supplant human labour. The relationship between technology and human labour is dynamic and contingent: it is prone to change and outcomes differ by context.