Overview

What is creative technological change? This text explores new ways of thinking and acting in relation to this question in contemporary organisations. It examines how technology shapes organisations and how organisations shape technology - especially 'virtual' and other information and computing technologies. A wide range of thinking on these issues from organisational theory, political economy, evolutionary economics, feminist analysis, the sociology of technology and the 'new socio-technical theory' is outlined. The idea of metaphor is deployed to capture the differences between, and strengths and weaknesses of, different ways of conceptualising the technology/organisation relationship. It is argued that this approach offers the possibility of developing new ways of thinking about, viewing and ultimately responding creatively to the organisational challenges posed by technological change. The book concludes by outlining a model of the process by which technology and organisation are configured. Topics covered include: * machine, biological and virtual ways of understanding technology and organisation * the evolution of innovative organisational forms * the politics of consuming technology in organisations * social constructivist perspectives on the production of technology * the socio-economic shaping of technology and organisation * configuring technology and organisation.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ian Mcloughlin (Newcastle University, UK)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.370kg
ISBN:  

9780415180009

ISBN 10:   0415180007
Pages:   200
Publication Date:   18 February 1999
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Introduction: Shaping Technology and Organisations The Problem of Technology and Technological Determinism What is Technology and What Does it Do? Metaphors, Technology and Organisation Creative Technological Change - Book Structure 1 Technology and Organisation: 'Machines', 'Organisms' and Virtual Realities Introduction The Machine and its Organisational Dysfunctions Technology as a Contingency in Industrial Organisations From Industrial to Post-industrial Organisations From Post-industrial to 'Virtual Organisations' From Technological Determinism to 'Computopia' Conclusion 2 The Evolution of the Innovative Organisation Introduction Evolutionary Economics and Technological Innovation Technological Innovation and Organisations Trajectories, Techno-Economic Paradigms and ICTs The Innovative Organisation Assessing Evolutionary and Biological Models Conclusion New Production Concepts: Fordism, Post-Fordism and the Electronic Panopticon Introduction Labour Process Theory and the Critique of Post-Industrialism Post-Fordist Production Concepts: flexible specialisation and lean production Virtual Organisation: the archetypal post-modern organisation? The Electronic Panopticon Assessment: Control, flexibility or panoptic power through technology? Conclusion 4 Choice, Organisational Politics and the Outcomes of Technological Change Introduction The Political/cultural Metaphor Strategic Choice and Organisational Politics The Process and Politics of Technological Change Change Management and the Micro-politics of Change The Independent Influence of Technology Assessment: Process, politics, power and technology Conclusion 5 Inside the Black Box: Social Constructivism and Technology Introduction Social Constructivism and Technological Determinism The Sociology of Scientific Knowledge and the Turn to Technology The SCOT Approach Actor Network Theory Comparisons and Applicability to ICTs A Preliminary Assessment of Constructivist Approaches to Technology Conclusion 6 Transforming the Organisation: Technology as Text Introduction Technology, Text and Culture The Electronic Mediation of Work and Organisational Transformation Restrictive and Thoroughgoing Constructivist Views of Technology as Text Configuring the User: Transforming the Organisation? Assessing the Constructivist Approach to Technology Conclusion 7 Outside the Black Box: The Socio-Economic Shaping of Technology Introduction The Socio-Economic Shaping of Technology Interests in the Production of Technology: class, politics and gender Interests in the Consumption of Technology: suppliers and users Re-shaping Technology: new wave socio-technical systems Assessing Socio-economic Shaping Conclusion Conclusion: Creative Technological Change Introduction Metaphors of Technology and Organisation The Shaping of a Manufacturing Innovation 'Reading' the three cases Shaping Socio-technical Configurations: the micro-politics of change Concluding Comment References Index

Reviews

[McLoughlin's] approach helps develop new insights and creative responses to organizational challenges posed by technological change. Of interest to those in management, organizational theory, and sociology of technology. - Book News, Inc

[McLoughlin's] approach helps develop new insights and creative responses to organizational challenges posed by technological change. Of interest to those in management, organizational theory, and sociology of technology. <br>- Book News, Inc <br>

'Interesting and informative' - Angus Bancroft, University of Edinburgh

Author Information

Ian Mcloughlin

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