Some Social Impacts of ICT in Automation A Case Study of Poland

Abstract The present paper discusses the social and political aspects of the technology change and transfer in the domain of automation and ICT during the pioneering era in Poland (the case-study country). The paper presents some of the projects led by an exemplary leading designer who has led successfully a dozen or so significant projects (in comparison to not more than one successful significant projects that the other ICT pioneers were allowed to lead) and discusses the social and political impacts of the projects. The paper discloses new information in this area since other researchers, in general, do not possess the necessary knowledge of the actual working conditions in the automation and ICT industry and those who do are not brave enough to disclose them, thus criticizing big Hi-Tech providers.