A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work1 PowerPoint ® Slides to Accompany A Gift of Fire : Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computers and the Internet (2nd Edition) by Sara Baase San Diego State University PowerPoint slides created by Sherry Clark Copyright 2003 Prentice Hall

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work2 A Gift of Fire A Gift of Fire 8.1 The changing nature of work 8.1 The changing nature of work 8.2 The impact of employment 8.2 The impact of employment 8.3 The work environment 8.3 The work environment 9.3 Loss of Skill and Judgment 9.3 Loss of Skill and Judgment Book Reference

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work3 A Gift of Fire Computers and Work The Changing Nature of Work The Changing Nature of Work The Impact on Employment The Impact on Employment The Work Environment The Work Environment Employee Monitoring Employee Monitoring Health Issues Health Issues

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work4 The Changing Nature of Work Impact of Computers on Work: Impact of Computers on Work: Some jobs have been eliminated. Some jobs have been eliminated. Other jobs have been created. Other jobs have been created. Repetitious or boring jobs are now done with computers. Repetitious or boring jobs are now done with computers. There is more time for creativity. There is more time for creativity. Some workers telecommute. Some workers telecommute. Employers can better monitor their workers. Employers can better monitor their workers. Health issues have been associated with computer usage. Health issues have been associated with computer usage.

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work5 The Impact on Employment Job Destruction and Creation Job Destruction and Creation Computers and Unemployment: Computers and Unemployment: Automation leads to loss of jobs. Automation leads to loss of jobs. Computerization eliminates some jobs. Computerization eliminates some jobs. Computer efficiency means fewer jobs. Computer efficiency means fewer jobs. Computers and Employment: Computers and Employment: The need for computer designers, builders, and programmers creates jobs. The need for computer designers, builders, and programmers creates jobs. Growing computer networks creates jobs for administrators. Growing computer networks creates jobs for administrators. The need for training, sales and technical support creates jobs. The need for training, sales and technical support creates jobs. In general, computers make many products affordable to more people. Thus, more jobs are created to make those products. In general, computers make many products affordable to more people. Thus, more jobs are created to make those products.

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work6 The Impact on Employment Job Destruction and Creation (contd) Job Destruction and Creation (contd) Technology, Economic Factors, and Employment: Technology, Economic Factors, and Employment: Technology is often blamed for massive unemployment. Technology is often blamed for massive unemployment. The Luddites feared weaving looms would take away jobs they did not. The Luddites feared weaving looms would take away jobs they did not. Likewise, Neo-Luddites fear technology will eliminate jobs. Likewise, Neo-Luddites fear technology will eliminate jobs. The Great Depression was not caused by technology taking away jobs. The Great Depression was not caused by technology taking away jobs. Instead, complicated economic and political factors contribute to job destruction. Instead, complicated economic and political factors contribute to job destruction. Q : What new technology might be perceived as eliminating jobs?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work7 The Impact on Employment Job Destruction and Creation (contd) Job Destruction and Creation (contd) How Have Computer Technology and Other Technologies Affected: How Have Computer Technology and Other Technologies Affected: Hourly wages? Hourly wages? Fringe benefits? Fringe benefits? Spending on leisurely activities? Spending on leisurely activities? The number of working hours? The number of working hours? The percentage of taxes we owe? The percentage of taxes we owe? Our productivity? Our productivity? Employer productivity? Employer productivity?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work8 The Impact on Employment Job Destruction and Creation (contd) Job Destruction and Creation (contd) A Global Workforce A Global Workforce Some jobs moved from wealthy countries to less wealthy ones. Some jobs moved from wealthy countries to less wealthy ones. Pay rates are lower in less wealthy countries. Pay rates are lower in less wealthy countries. The Internet and Web reduce the need for transportation of people (e.g. teleconferencing) and paper (e.g. and attachments). The Internet and Web reduce the need for transportation of people (e.g. teleconferencing) and paper (e.g. and attachments). The Internet and Web make it easier for information technology (e.g. software updates) and some service jobs (e.g. technical support) to be far from customers or employers. The Internet and Web make it easier for information technology (e.g. software updates) and some service jobs (e.g. technical support) to be far from customers or employers. Q: When you call Customer Service for a large company, what state is the service representative in? What Country?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work9 The Impact on Employment Changing Skills and Jobs Changing Skills and Jobs Optimistic Outlook: Optimistic Outlook: The educational system adapts rapidly to create newly trained workers. The educational system adapts rapidly to create newly trained workers. Technology can be used to retrain displaced workers. Technology can be used to retrain displaced workers. Pessimistic Outlook: Pessimistic Outlook: Advanced software will eliminate many jobs requiring high skills. Advanced software will eliminate many jobs requiring high skills. Automation and the Web will lead to mass unemployment. Automation and the Web will lead to mass unemployment. Q: Do you anticipate holding the same job all of your working years?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work10 The Work Environment Teleworking Teleworking Benefits: Benefits: Flexible schedule and work options. Flexible schedule and work options. Reduced overhead. Reduced overhead. Reduction in transportation and parking resources. Reduction in transportation and parking resources. Problems: Problems: Less productive or overworked employees. Less productive or overworked employees. Lack of belonging (social isolation). Lack of belonging (social isolation). Potential distractions are counter-productive. Potential distractions are counter-productive. Q: Would your current or future job lend itself to teleworking?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work11 The Work Environment Changing Business Structures Changing Business Structures Trends That May Impact the Size and Structure of Business: Trends That May Impact the Size and Structure of Business: Smaller businesses. Smaller businesses. More independent consultants and contractors. More independent consultants and contractors. More self-employment. More self-employment. Small businesses operating globally. Small businesses operating globally. Multi-national corporations and mergers. Multi-national corporations and mergers. Decline in number of employees per firm. Decline in number of employees per firm. Flattened hierarchies. Flattened hierarchies. Empowered workers. Empowered workers. Q: Identify a business for each trend.

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work12 Loss of Skills and Judgment Writing, Thinking, and Memory Writing, Thinking, and Memory Computers Affect the Way We: Computers Affect the Way We: Write in the form of spell- and grammar-checkers and desktop publishing. Write in the form of spell- and grammar-checkers and desktop publishing. Research due to online archives, periodicals, and search tools. Research due to online archives, periodicals, and search tools. Think because a vast amount of data is available, quickly, from all parts of the globe. Think because a vast amount of data is available, quickly, from all parts of the globe. Communicate using text, graphics, audio, and video. Communicate using text, graphics, audio, and video. Q: For each item, identify what skills are being lost.

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 8: Computers and Work13 Loss of Skills and Judgment Abdicating Responsibility Abdicating Responsibility People may rely too much on computers for decisions about: People may rely too much on computers for decisions about: Approval of loans or insurance coverage. Approval of loans or insurance coverage. Assessment of student, teacher, and school administrator progress. Assessment of student, teacher, and school administrator progress. The arrest of certain individuals. The arrest of certain individuals. How to make a particular business decision. How to make a particular business decision. The treatment of a disease with a particular medicine. The treatment of a disease with a particular medicine. Q: Recall a time when you did what the computer said, rather than exercise your judgment.