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The Impact of Office Automation on the Organization: Some Implications for Research and Practice

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Introduction

Social Impacts of Computing

Rob Kling
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The Impact of Office
Automation on the
Organization: Some
Implications for Research and Practice
M a r g r e t h e H. O l s o n a n d H e n r y C. L u c a s Jr.
New York University

Computer technology has recently been applied to the automation of office tasks and procedures. Much of the technology is aimed not at improving the efficiency of current office procedures, but at altering the nature of office work altogether. The development of automated office systems raises a number of issues for the organization. How will this technology be received by organization members? How will it affect the definition of traditional office work? What will be its impact on individuals, work groups, and the structure of the organization? This paper presents a descriptive model and propositions concerning the potential impacts of office automation on the organization and it stresses the need, when implementing automated office systems, to take a broad perspective of their potential positive and negative effects on the organization. The need for further research examining the potential effects of office automation is emphasized. CR Categories and Subject Descriptors: J. 1 [Administrative Data Processing]--business; K.4.3 [Computers and Society]: Organizational Impacts
General Terms: Experimentation, Management,
Theory, Human Factors
Additional Key Words and Phrases: office automation, automated office systems, impact on organizations, electronic mail

Authors' Present Address: Marrgrreth H. Olson and Henry C. Lucas,
Jr., Computer Applications and Information Systems Area, Graduate
School of Business, 100 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006.
Permission to copy without fee all or part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct

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