The dynamics of computerization in a social science research team : a case study of infrastructure, strategies, and skills

This paper examines the dynamics of Computerization in a PC-oriented research group through a case study. The time and skill in integrating computing into the labor processes of research are often significant "hidden costs" of computerization. Computing infrastructure plays a key role in reducing these costs may be enhanced by careful organization. We illustrate computerization strategies that we have found to be productive and unproductive. Appropriate computerization strategies depend as much on the structuring of resources and interests in the larger social setting, as on a technical characterization of tasks

More information, better jobs? : occupational stratification and labor market segmentation in the United States' information labor force

This article examines the mix of good and bad jobs in the restructuring of United States' labor markets for information work between 1900 and 1980. ls the information sector still growing relative to other occupational sectors? What is the relative proportion of good to bad jobs in the information sector today? ls the mix of good bad jobs within the information sector changing over time? To answer these questions, we examine changes in the relative size of the information sector's labor markers and changes in five occupational strata within it - professional, semiprofessional, supervisory and upper-level sales personnel, clerks, and blue-collar workers.The information occupations mushroomed in size from 17% of the United States workforce in 1900 to over 50% in 1980. Information sector jobs vary widely in quality. Few information sector jobs are fully professional, and clerical jobs form the largest single occupational stratum. When we examined the growth of the various strata between 1900 and 1980, we found that clerical jobs became more dominant, not less dominant. But this distribution has been masked by the steady growth of information sector jobs in the highly professional and semiprofessional strata, as well as clerical jobs. The occupational stratum between clerks and semiprofessionals - the supervisory and upper-level sales workers - has steadily declined in relative size.Two lower strata - clerks and sales and supervisory workers - account for 55% of the jobs in the information sector. Our data suggest that information labor markets are divided into relatively impermeable segments. As the information sector expanded, it took on many characteristics of the overall economy. It includes a mix of jobs that are diverse in their pay, status, and power. Its internal divisions reflect patterns of segmentation that have developed elsewhere in the society - a dual labor market. Overall, the information sector has become sufficiently large that it is not an alternative to the dominant social order - it simply reproduces many of its features

The institutional character of computerized information systems

We examine how important social and technical choices become part of the history of a computer-based information system (CB/SJ and embedded in the social structure which supports its development and use. These elements of a CBIS can be organized in specific ways to enhance its usability and performance. Paradoxically, they can also constrain future implementations and post-implementations.We argue that CBIS developed from complex, interdependent social and technical choices should be conceptualized in terms of their institutional characteristics, as well as their information-processing characteristics. The social system which supports the development and operation of a CBIS is one major element whose institutional characteristics can effectively support routine activities while impeding substantial innovation. Characterizing CBIS as institutions is important for several reasons: (1) the usability of CBIS is more critical than the abstract information-processing capabilities of the underlying technology; (2) CBIS that are well-used and have stable social structures are more difficult to replace than those with less developed social structures and fewer participants; (3) CBIS vary from one social setting to another according to the ways in which they are organized and embedded in organized social systems. These ideas are illustrated with the case study of a failed attempt to convert a complex inventory control system in a medium-sized manufacturing firm

Which Workers Gain Upon Adopting a Computer?

Using the Canadian Workplace and Employee Survey and controlling for individual and establishment fixed effects, we find that within a year of adopting a computer, the average worker earns a 3.6 percent higher wage than a similar worker who did not adopt a computer. Returns are even larger for managers and professionals, highly educated workers, and those with significant prior computer experience. Employees who use computer applications that require high cognitive skills earn the highest returns.Computer Use, Technology, Computer Applications

Augmenting entry: the possibilities for utilizing geo-referenced information to improve mobile calendar applications

Today's mobile communication devices often offer extensive calendar facilities. However the use of these is often very limited through cumbersome interfaces and inappropriate designs for small devices. Prompted by previous work in mobile calendar usability, this paper discusses how augmentation of calendar entries with mobile spatial information could provide potential advantages and improve the usability of an electronic calendar

Towards Participatory Design: The Head and the Heart Revisited

Participatory design is a movement among system developers to encourage active participation in the design process by people using computer systems. Participatory design is not one set of methods or beliefs, but rather an approach that tries to borrow practices from other areas and apply them to the workplace in order to enable people to speak out about their needs. This article discusses some of the basic ideas and their relationship to the women's movement

The role of organizational factors in influencing payoffs from computerization

The prevailing understanding of information technology (IT) resources, especially computers, is that their use can independently lead organizations to achieve high levels of performance and result in large productivity payoffs. This notion has been fueled by findings of several studies that examined only the impact large financial investments in IT have on productivity, while neglecting the effi;ct of the larger organizational context

Ambiente educacional como recurso de desenvolvimento para o processo de aprendizagem

Following overseas examples, educational institutions in Russia are trying to interact with other organizations implementing practical competence approach. The relevance of the topic lies in the fact that modern educational environment is constantly changing both due to the dynamics of everyday and professional conditions. Due to competence approach constant monitoring and new resources are required for the development of each subject in this educational environment. The goal of the work is to create means for open social and educational environment realization which allows achieving positive results for all participants in the project. In this article, the authors raise the issue of modern educational environment creation as a resource for each subject of the educational process development.The article attempts to improve students’, teachers’ and others participants’ interested in educational environment development interaction. We try to achieve a qualitatively new level of participants’ skills and competencies development in this process. For this, analysis of the essence and structure of educational process in a higher educational institution was carried out. After that, the authors propose, within the framework of a project implemented by Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University on the organization and development of the social and educational environment, to conduct special computer literacy courses for the elderly. The courses offered combine the activities of a large number of people who, working for a common result, achieve the development of individual qualities. The results obtained are the basis for further improvement of educational environment.Siguiendo ejemplos en el extranjero, las instituciones educativas en Rusia están tratando de interactuar con otras organizaciones implementando un enfoque de competencia práctica. La relevancia del tema radica en el hecho de que el entorno educativo moderno está cambiando constantemente debido a la dinámica de las condiciones cotidianas y profesionales. Debido al enfoque de competencia, el monitoreo constante y nuevos recursos son necesarios para el desarrollo de cada asignatura en este entorno educativo. El objetivo del trabajo es crear medios para la realización de un entorno social y educativo abierto que permita lograr resultados positivos para todos los participantes en el proyecto. En este artículo, los autores plantean el tema de la creación de un entorno educativo moderno como un recurso para cada tema del desarrollo del proceso educativo.El artículo intenta mejorar la interacción entre los estudiantes, los maestros y otros participantes interesados en el desarrollo del entorno educativo. Intentamos alcanzar un nivel cualitativamente nuevo de desarrollo de habilidades y competencias de los participantes en este proceso. Para ello, se realizó un análisis de la esencia y estructura del proceso educativo en una institución de educación superior. Posteriormente, los autores proponen, en el marco de un proyecto implementado por la Universidad Pedagógica Estatal Nizhny Novgorod sobre la organización y el desarrollo del entorno social y educativo, realizar cursos especiales de alfabetización informática para personas mayores. Los cursos ofrecidos combinan las actividades de un gran número de personas que, trabajando por un resultado común, logran el desarrollo de cualidades individuales.Na sequência de exemplos no exterior, instituições educacionais na Rússia estão tentando interagir com outras organizações implementando uma abordagem de competência prática. A relevância do tema reside no fato de que o ambiente educacional moderno está em constante mudança, tanto devido à dinâmica das condições cotidianas e profissionais. Devido à abordagem de competência, monitoramento constante e novos recursos são necessários para o desenvolvimento de cada disciplina nesse ambiente educacional. O objetivo do trabalho é criar meios para a realização de um ambiente social e educacional aberto que permita alcançar resultados positivos para todos os participantes do projeto. Neste artigo, os autores levantam a questão da criação de ambientes educacionais modernos como recurso para cada sujeito do processo de desenvolvimento educacional.O artigo tenta melhorar a interação dos alunos, professores e outros participantes interessados na interação do desenvolvimento do ambiente educacional. Tentamos alcançar um nível qualitativamente novo de desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências dos participantes neste processo. Para isso, foi realizada a análise da essência e estrutura do processo educacional em uma instituição de ensino superior. Em seguida, os autores propõem, no âmbito de um projeto implementado pela Universidade Pedagógica Estadual Nizhny Novgorod, a organização e desenvolvimento do ambiente socioeducacional, para a realização de cursos especiais de alfabetização em informática para idosos. Os cursos oferecidos combinam as atividades de um grande número de pessoas que, trabalhando por um resultado comum, alcançam o desenvolvimento de qualidades individuai