Science and technology has been a driving force for our progression as a society throughout history. Science and technology is an integral aspect of work and employment in enabling the flow in efficiency and productivity. With the introduction of science and technology, individuals are able to focus on other aspects of their life, such as social integration where they can learn to live with the right values. However, technology and science can also negatively impacts work and employment where individuals face alienation, and reduced employment opportunities due to the greater demand for technology. According to Blyton, P., & Jenkins (2007), science and technology can be defined as the equipment, tools, and techniques utilised in the work process. In a much broader sense, it can be referred to as the overall way of doing things, and the pattern of social and economic development.
Throughout pre-modern work societies, science and technology was characterized as mechanical, and knowledge was considered to be hierarchically based and religiously determined. During this period of pre-modern work societies, technology mainly involved manual labour on land using basic and simple tools. However, with the advancement of science and technology it now plays a pivotal role in influencing the nature and experience of work, as well as representing a central aspect of a society’s pattern of economic development. Work acts as a central value for both systemic and social integration where society’s norms and values are implemented, negotiated and created. Work and employment is perceived as an integrating force where individuals either seek employment for the moral good of society or as a condition as a necessity for existence. With the introduction of science and technology, work plays a more critical part in the integration of our society as our daily lives revolve around work. Science and technology enables efficiency and productivity which supports individuals to obtain more knowledge and become more informed about debates, norms, and values through discussion which ultimately encourages the creation of adaptation of social norms and values through a collective conscience. Continually, in terms of systemic integration, science and technology allows individuals to implement and prescribe norms and values. It provides individuals with a sense of belonging in society socially and systemically, thereby justifying the major role that technology has on work and employment. The advancements in technology has increased the portability of many work activities, enabling workers to perform work tasks while physically away from the workforce. With the continual innovation of technology, society is able to increase its efficiency in the means of production and productivity of workers, where they are able to extend their work time in the day thus humanizing work.
During the period of modern work societies, technology became automated and individuals started to perceive knowledge as more layered and scientifically proven. This period was characterized with disenchantment where individuals used science to explain the cause and effect of events. This period of automation was where technology advanced and individuals started utilizing heavy machinery in industrial contexts, such as factories. The impact of science and technology can be seen to an extent where we need specialists for almost everything. The shift from an agrarian to an industrial and a post- industrial society is characterised by the developments in technology. Society continues to innovate technology and science in order to gain an efficient distribution of knowledge and an intensified mode of production for profit in the workforce. Technology and science has helped individuals in distributing new forms of knowledge through networks. This has ranged from hardware and new communication networks where information has controlled access. With the introduction of science and technology, individuals strive to challenge and innovate products in order to increase productivity and efficiency. It can be argued that innovative disruption increases the ability to satisfy needs as it equally increases the production for profit on the basis of digitalisation. Rifkin (1995) argues that automation and technological rationalisation optimise the production processes, where manual labour is no longer required. The technologically intensified division of labour is characterised by disruption, which focuses on a smaller company with fewer resources that is able to successfully challenge established businesses. This can be seen where individuals focus on improving their products and services in order to be exceed the needs of some segments and ignore the needs of others for profit. This begins by targeting those overlooked segments by delivering more suitable functionality at a lower price. This leads to entrants to move upmarket, delivering the performance that customers require while preserving the advantages that drove their early success. When mainstream customers start adopting the entrants offering in volume, disruption has occurred.
Overall, with the rise of modernity, this led to the late modern work society to perceive knowledge as fragmented and networked where every aspect of life was based on science. In terms of technology in the late modern work society, individuals became more automated and digitally determined to rely on technology. With society’s continual advancement in technology, this intensified the paradox of individual’s dependence on work and the need for the reduction of work as a cost. Work is a key factor in society, we depend on technology and science in work for social innovation, knowledge, and to ultimately reduce as much work as possible which may increase the efficiency in a workplace. This need to reduce the amount of work reveals the level of significance that technology plays in society. With this dependence on technology and science, Rifkin (1995) states that “from 1979 to 1992, productivity increased by 35% in manufacturing while the workforce shrank by 15%”. This showcases the trends for the increased productivity level by reducing inefficient processes and resources and utilizing technology and science. With the increasing adoption of science and techology, it has resulted in the displacing of millions of blue and white collar workers into unemployment. The decline of employment is further sumarised by Rifkin (1995) where he states that “more than 75% of the labor force in most industrial nations engage in work that is little more than simple repetitive tasks. Automated machinery, robots and increasingly sophisticated computers can perform many if not most of these jobs”. This has left the population in fear of the future where human technology may be replaced by an automated computer workforce.
Science and technology have played a major impact in why and how we work, and it has been a driving force for our progression as a society throughout history. With the introduction of science and technology in work it allows individuals to focus on other aspects of their life’s, such as social integration where they are able to learn to live with the right values. However, with the increasing adoption of technology and science in the workplace, it can negatively impact individuals where they face alienation, and reduced employment opportunities due to the greater demand for technology.
Reference List
- Blyton, P., & Jenkins, J. (2007). Key concepts in work. Sage.
- Rifkin, J. (1995). The end of work: The decline of the global labor force and the dawn of the post-market era. GP Putnam’s Sons, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.