The Breadth of Technology LO18238

Jon Krispin (jkrispin@prestolitewire.com)
Mon, 01 Jun 1998 09:27:33 -0400

I have been intrigued by the recent discussion regarding technology. For
anyone interested, David Kipnis, Professor Ameritus at the Social and
Organizational Psychology department of Temple University in Philadelphia,
has done some research that suggests that behavioral technologies (such as
some of the methods used to facilitate the development of the LO,
behavioral psychology and other methods to change behaviors) have many of
the same effects on perceptions and attributions that physical technology
has. As the level of technology increases, the degree to which an
individual working with the technology is seen to be responsible (by the
manager) for positive outcomes decreases. However, if negative outcomes
occur, the individual is much more likely to be seen as being incompetent,
subversive, and at fault. As you might imagine, this phenomenon can have
some pretty serious implications for the organization that is striving to
become a true Learning Organization.

Maybe there are some differences between physical technologies and
behavioral technologies, but there are some significant similarities in
how they impact work relationships and interpersonal interactions.

Just some food for thought.

Jon Krispin

-- 


"Jon Krispin" <jkrispin@prestolitewire.com>


        Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com>
  Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>