Title: Designing for the In-Between: Balancing Organizational Goals and Worker Needs 

Date: Tuesday April 26, 2022

Time: 12—2pm ET

Location (remote via Zoom): https://gatech.zoom.us/j/93583582352?pwd=ZG5sSzhvaVhZaGkyWG9Tb0pVV2RLdz09

Alyssa Rumsey

PhD student in Human-Centered Computing

School of Interactive Computing

Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee:

Dr. Christopher Le Dantec (Advisor) – School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Carl DiSalvo – School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Beki Grinter – School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Melissa Mazmanian – School of Information and Computer Sciences and School of Management,

University of California Irvine

Summary: 

A prominent vision of the future of work is one that is dominated by technology where advanced computing capabilities are leveraged by organizations in exchange for operational efficiencies. Intertwined with Industry 4.0 narratives, this prevailing viewpoint embraces new smart technology as desirable because it will result in ‘easier’ and therefore, better jobs for employees. Smart tech has even been positioned as the answer to workforce shortages and growing skills gaps in traditional manual labor roles like manufacturing and construction. However, these interventions are being developed based on assumptions and values stemming from scientific management practices that reinforce hierarchies of control and do not prioritize worker needs. As these tools become more widely accessible, they amplify a narrow value set demanding that we understand how smart technologies are changing working conditions and practices to reimagine a more equitable future of work.

My research is focused on understanding how new smart computing devices are being introduced into workplaces that have not traditionally engaged with technology due to deficient resources, expertise, and access to the infrastructures needed to support adoption and use. I have completed three field studies in emergency response, manufacturing, and logistics, using ethnographic methods to examine the changing nature of work caused by new technology implementation and use. These individual studies surface the tensions between organizations and workers highlighting the nuances of designing for blue-collar professionals in practice. In my proposed work, I will explore these tensions in detail through a comparative cross-site analysis of my three field sites. The outcomes of my research seek to inform the future of work generating theoretical and empirical contributions for organizational studies and design. It is critical that we understand how to develop technologies in a way that supports blue-collar identities while delivering on organizational goals necessary for economic prosperity. By designing for both organizations and workers, technology has the potential to balance the scales of power resulting in new kinds of organizational structures and more meaningful work.

Meeting Details:

Topic: Proposal - Alyssa Rumsey

Time: Apr 26, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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