What is it about?
The paper explores the basis of the occupational identity of telecommunications engineers and in particular their relationship with the technology that they worked with. The hands-on application of skill and discretion over the conduct of work were central aspects of this occupational identity. The paper argues that although the occupational identity was an important resource for dealing with change, ultimately key aspects of the occupational identity were undermined by the digitalization of telecommunications technology.
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Why is it important?
The paper is important in terms of developing a link between the literatures on the sociology of technology and the sociology of work. Through the use of the concept of affordances the paper goes beyond dominant themes in the literature, notably social constructivist accounts and labour process debates regarding technology as a means of control, , to develop a more nuanced portrayal of the role of technology in relation to occupational identity.
Perspectives
The use of working life biographies as a research technique was an enjoyable experience. The enthusiastic accounts of the performance of engineering tasks, embedded in critical, reflexive accounts of the realities of the employment relationship were a pleasure to encounter.
Prof Robert MacKenzie
Karlstad University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Technology, Affordances and Occupational Identity Amongst Older Telecommunications Engineers: From Living Machines to Black-Boxes, Sociology, December 2015, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0038038515616352.
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