11/19: MNGT 410 - Technology in the Workplace

Introduction to Amazon
- Amazon's position in the organizational field is discussed, suggesting it bridges various organizations.

Announcement: Ford Motor Company will begin selling certified used cars on Amazon.
- This marks a significant development as Amazon continues to expand its market offerings, which now include vehicles.
- Amazon Auto allows users to purchase used cars online.
- Ford's decision indicates trust in the Amazon brand, allowing customers the option to return cars to Ford dealers if needed.

Robert Thomas' Analysis
- Thomas explores how technology is implemented in different industries through his book, which is not required reading for the class, but a chapter is available for free.
- He focuses on four industries and how they utilize technology:
1. Auto Industry
2. Computer Industry
3. Airlines
4. Aluminum Manufacturing
Discussion Points for Students
- Technology's Influence: Students are encouraged to reflect on how technology has influenced their experiences as consumers and employees.
- Technological Determinism: Students should consider its meaning and critique it based on Thomas’ arguments and connections to DiMaggio and Powell’s isomorphism.
- Power Process Perspective: What does this mean, and why is it pivotal in understanding technological choices in industries?

Institutionalized Default: Technology becomes so ingrained in American industries that it appears as the default solution, leading to a lack of critical thought about its necessity and impact.
Innovation in Action: Even traditional jobs have transformed due to technological advancements that allow for greater efficiency (e.g., note-taking via technology).

Surveillance and Data: Students share views on surveillance technologies in businesses like Amazon Go, highlighting generational differences in perception of technology as a norm.
- The omnipresence of technology makes it challenging to recall an era without it, as it becomes an expected aspect of both workplaces and educational environments.

Definition: Technological determinism posits that technological development influences organizational behavior and societal norms.
- It suggests that technology has agency and can dictate the direction of societal evolution.
- This presents a unidirectional perspective that Thomas challenges by asserting that not all organizations adopt emerging technologies.

Key Ideas: The power process perspective posits that power dynamics shape technology use within organizations, raising questions about who benefits from technological advancements and who is left behind.
- Control Dynamics: Recommendations for how technology reflects and empowers existing structures of power within businesses.
- Use of technology can have dual effects, enabling efficiency and increasing surveillance/control over employees.

Connections: Thomas’ arguments relate closely to previous readings from DiMaggio and Powell’s discussions on isomorphism and Foucault’s concepts of surveillance within organizational contexts.
- Theorists explore how organizations conform to technological norms for competitive advantage, leading to homogenization in practices across fields.
Selznick's Legacy: Decisions made in the past, including technological choices, influence the trajectory of organizations in modern contexts.

Automation and surveillance technologies raise ethical questions about employee treatment and privacy.
- Discussions on the implications of AI and other technologies serve as case studies for emerging ethical dilemmas in workplaces.
- The importance of corporate social responsibility and its intersection with technology is emphasized.

Emerging Technologies: Students are prompted to analyze whether all new technologies are necessary or effective within their organizational context.
Practical Applications: The discussions encourage students to observe their own technological interactions in everyday life, workplace settings, and how these experiences align with theoretical concepts discussed in class.

Bullet points for future readings and discussions are established, focusing on understanding how organizations adapt to and implement technology while considering the implications of their decisions.
- Future Focus: Discussions on whether large organizations are essential in the face of increasing technology use and implications for workers and creativity.