What Machines Can't Do: Politics and Technology in the Industrial Enterprise.

• DOI: 10.2307/2076715
• Publication Date: 2006-05-08T00:13:01Z
• Authors: Peter Whalley; Robert J. Thomas
• Keywords: 0504 sociology; 05 social sciences

Preface 1. Introduction Bridging Determinism and Choice The Power-Process Perspective History Matters Dissimilar Logics in an Organizational Context Choice, Change, Worldviews Understanding Technological Change Case Studies Research Methods Site Selection Reporting Findings Organization of the Book 2. Technology as a Power Tool: Aircraft Company Industrial 1: Flexible Machining System Choosing Between Technologies Symptoms Versus Causes Bringing Interests to Surface Within Finessing ROI Pitching Implementing Symbolic Sensors Conclusion 2: Robotized Assembly Cell Dangers Real Engineering Going Outside, Not Inside, for Help Preventing Range War Least Common Denominator Epilogue 3: Shop-Programmable Machine Tools Conclusions Implications 3. Invention Convention: Computer Official Story Unofficial Convention Building Movement Networking An External Threat Product Openings Great Investment Bake-Off East Coast: From Slack Stress Temp Solution Back West Lights On or Out? Too Much Cult Expert 4. Collaborative Change: Aluminum Products Up Running Hitting Brick Wall Communicating Across Boundaries 5. A Contest over Content: Auto Industry Corporate Control Plant Autonomy Union-Management Relations Manufacturing Renaissance Content Contested Language Getting Yes Owning 6. Politics Limits ofT echnological Impact on Breaking Institutional Molds from How Independent Is Technology? Social Whose Strategy? Choice? Class Action? Perspective: Elaboration Purposive Structuring Political Hand Crossing Bridge Innovation Innovative Theory 7. Aesthetics Status Design H Manufacturing? Knowledge Process Reconsidered Search Aesthetic Appendix Talking Preliminary Coding Categories Definition References Index