Technology as Work and Work as Technology

Abstract

Information technology (IT) organizations are considered the flag bearers of the post-industrial society. Arguably, the IT organizations are engaging and generating new forms of work such as software development. The new forms of work do not culminate in a material or a physical product. Rather the new forms of work is processed through computers, headsets and phones. Hence, this article presents the analysis of new forms of work emerging out of IT organizations. It addresses the question about how, technology is producing a new definition of work. In doing so, the article addresses the concepts of human capital, cyber-workers and intrusion of open source learning, along with a detailed profiling of sales personnel (the new power agents of IT). Although, we come to think of technology as a mere tool, but unpacking the nature of work from an ontological perspective has made us to rethink our ideas about technology. It thus, give a complex perspective, as work and technology are entangled together with no clear-cut distinction, however this perspective generates concrete theoretical understandings while contributing to the contemporary industrial relations framework.