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The impact of information technology on ‘traditional’ occupations: the case of welding
Author(s) -
Mutch Alistair
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
new technology, work and employment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.889
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1468-005X
pISSN - 0268-1072
DOI - 10.1111/1468-005x.00047
Subject(s) - parallels , craft , dimension (graph theory) , agency (philosophy) , work (physics) , subject (documents) , sociology , welding , epistemology , positive economics , social science , engineering , computer science , history , economics , operations management , mechanical engineering , philosophy , mathematics , archaeology , library science , pure mathematics
This article argues that accounts of occupational change are flawed by lack of attention to the relationship between structure and agency. It uses the example of welding to critique, in particular, the work of Casey and Zuboff. Welding is an example of a manual craft occupation that, whilst subject to some change, has not been as dramatically affected by information technology as some analysts might suggest. In this it may have parallels with other occupations and this suggests not only further areas for research but also considerations about theoretical approaches. In particular, attention is drawn to the importance of the temporal dimension in social analysis.