The document discusses how information technologies affect organizations. It makes three key points: 1. Information technologies have stable properties that have unavoidable effects across society and organizations. 2. These technological properties are activated and their effects decided by those in power, including managers, through their choices of which technologies to adopt and how to configure them. 3. Contrary to claims that information technology affects all organizations equally, the impacts are unequally distributed and shaped by the interests of the powerful, not by technological imperatives alone.

1. The BIG LIE of IT
summary from last class... and our
goal for the beginning of today’s.
Technology rules The powerful rule
! Information technologies have
! Information technologies have stable properties
stable properties
! These properties have activated
! These properties have unavoidable effects across society and
effects across society and organizations
organizations
! Those in power (incl. managers)
! Information technology affects decide:
all organizations equally " which properties to activate
" by choosing the technology mix

2. If the tech
imperative is
true...
it cannot be true!

3. A communication network
A powerful communication network

4. It just makes sense...
(not so) subtle domination
Culture
What do I think?
Work Self
What can I do? What do I want?

5. What do (should) I think?
What do (should) I think?
"I don't like Israelis and I want to shoot
them because they're bombing us and
they're bombing the Palestinians. I
want to shoot them in real life as well.
In this game the Israelis don't win - the
resistance always wins."
”
“
Hassan Jomass, 21, who is helping out in the
arcade, explained the purpose of the game. "It
serves a certain goal. It's not just for fun. It's a
way to teach the youngsters to know their
enemy better and be patriotic."

6. What do (should) I think?
What can (should) I do?

7. What do (should) I want?
How do you want your
organization to be?
?
?
#
?

8. (not so) subtle domination
Culture
What do I think?
Work Self
What can I do? What do I want?
Assignment
1. My sales unit: Free <-----> Controlled
2. What is controlled
(F)Culture: Hire diversity
(F)Work tools: Train in designing their own
(C)Self: Publicize profile

9. summary from last class... and our
goal for the beginning of today’s.
Technology rules The powerful rule
! Information technologies have
! Information technologies have stable properties
stable properties
! These properties have activated
! These properties have unavoidable effects across society and
effects across society and organizations
organizations
! Those in power (incl. managers)
! Information technology affects decide:
all organizations equally " which properties to activate
" by choosing the technology mix
BULLSHIT!

10. A communication network in
practice
?
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