Re-thinking industrial work: Computer effects on technical white-collar workers

Abstract The dynamics of computerization is actually reorienting itself towards industrial work. Particularly affected will be white-collar work in industry. Large scale unemployment, degradation of work for the masses of workers, as well as better working conditions for small groups of specialists, and increasing control fn work and of the worker by information systems, will be the main consequences. Computerization has at the same time to be understood as a strategy of firms to fight against worsening conditions in their enviroments. Especially the stagnative tendencies in all major western economies force them to produce inside their productive and bureaucratic apparatus, the profits which they cannot find on their markets. The positive possibilities inherent to computerization, for instance for a reduction of socially necessary work or for a thorough self-management of workers, cannot be used or are perverted by the impact of the ruling economic forces.