Technology Management

Unit 15

Unit 15

Social Issues in Technology Management

Structure: 15.1 Introduction Objectives 15.2 Social Issues 15.3 Technological Change and Industrial Relations Implementation of rationalisation and automation in India Impact of technological change 15.4 Technology Assessment and Environmental Impact Analysis Environmental impact analysis process Guidelines on the scope of EIA Issues in preparation of EIA report Elements of the environmental problem 15.5 Summary 15.6 Glossary 15.7 Terminal Questions 15.8 Answers 15.9 Case Study

15.1 Introduction
In the previous unit, we studied about the human aspects in technology management. We discussed about the integration of people and technology, organisational and psychological factors affecting the technology management, and the relationship between organisational structure and technology management. In this unit, we will discuss about the social issues in technology management. We will also study about the technological change and industrial relations. We will also study about the technology assessment and environmental impact analysis. This unit will enable us to understand the social issues in technology management.

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Learning objectives: After studying this unit, you should be able to: Enlist the social issues. Explain technological change and industrial relations. Explain technology assessment and environmental impact analysis.

15.2 Social Issues

Let us start our discussion with the social issues in technology management. The advancements in science and technology have always been associated with the social issues. Whether technology has contributed to the question about a specific problem, or has been its cause, new scientific discoveries and technologies never get away from inspection. Every field of venture must come to provisions with the social implications of these advancements. Similarly, anyone researching on a topic of social significance cannot overlook the science or technology, if present, that plays a part in it. In our modern culture, these effects are felt more intensely than ever. Let us have a look at some of the social issues related to technology in specific areas. Survival: In a high technology society, most of the people gain the ability to destroy civilization. This poses a question, how can a technically advanced society live itself? If the technology does not have a persistent ethical code to which its people almost commonly subscribe, and an effective means of detecting and policing breaches, maybe it cannot. Computers: One of the significant contributions of technology is the Computer. Many are still in the state of confusion whether they are good or bad. It depends on the way we use it. Internet: As we all know that computer and internet has become one of the basic requirements for us. Internet can be used for both constructive and destructive purpose. It is universally accessible technology. Work: All of us should think about the answer to the question how does a less specialised society offer everyone of us with job? The problem solvers will always have work. But only the type of the problems they
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solve will alter. For example, robotics guarantees that there will be few unskilled or repetitive jobs in the fourth civilisation. But they will not take over complete work until and unless we design them to do so. All these concerns provide a professionalising of work and not its elimination. Artificial intelligence: There is an interesting question regarding the use of technology, will humans develop their own evolutionary successors in the form of intelligent machines?, and can we analyse the human brain and duplicate it? the answer to the second question might be yes, if the mind were no more than the brain. If this is done, again the purpose behind it should be for a noble cause. Environment: It is very important to be concerned with the environment. Technology helped the humankind to discover the nuclear power which both a boon and bane to us. The products and wastes while generating nuclear power is harmful for the environment.

Due to technological development many issues are arising, issues related to social and human welfare, urban and regional challenges, and education and employment. Let us have a look at the issues related to sociodemographic and technology change: Problems associated to an aging population, and also the implementation of new socially oriented technologies. Surveys indicating varying demographic arrangement and the position of technical education. Effect of new technologies on human behaviours. Self Assessment Questions 1. The advancements in science and technology have always been associated with ____. 2. In a high technology society, most of the people gain the ability to destroy civilization. (True/False)? 3. In our modern culture, ____ effects are felt more intensely than ever. Activity 1: Assume that you are a well-versed with computers and internet. Write down the advantages and disadvantages of the internet.

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15.3 Technological Change and Industrial Relations

In the previous section, we studied about some social issues related to technology management; let us now study about technological change and industrial relations Change is particularly disturbing, if it occurs rapidly, thus those affected must adjust soon, as it affects employment. In the workplace, change gives economic security, sense of self-worth, and a connection of social interactions. We can define industrial relations (also called as labour relations) as the relations between not only the employers and the trade unions, but also the government with the objective of giving description of the policies. At present, due to rapid and sweeping changes in the workplace, our lives become complex and unsettled. We are living in the information technology environment, and feel ourselves becoming engaged into a complex network that defines description, cannot be achieved by borders or firewalls, and looks to have boundless probabilities for invention, transmission, and explanation. Modern technologies are both thrilling and frightening, bringing problems along with great promise. In the sixties, two technological changes were systematically introduced in our industrial system, namely, rationalisation, and automation. Rationalisation: We can define rationalisation as a general modification or change in the control and structure of the industrial activities. We can apply the techniques of rationalisation to not only the materials and processes, but also to the men involved in the process of production. Automation: We can define automation as a technological change, in which the technology only manages or controls the operations.

15.3.1 Implementation of rationalisation and automation in India Let us now discuss the implementation of rationalisation and automation in our country. Our economy operates on different stages of technology together, jet planes and animal driven carts being at two ends the band. Industrial production drives on with machines, hand tools, and other automated and electronic devices.
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In the fifties, the requirement for rationalisation and automation in our industry was felt. After the Second World War, old fashioned machines were used without any repair or replacement in many industries. In European and Asian countries, the benefits of working of modern mills and factories showed the importance of advanced technology to the Indian industries. This prompted Indian industrialists to modernise their machines. The requirement of rationalisation in our country was felt to raise the production efficiency in a highly competitive global market. This also paved way to take up exports, especially, in cotton and jute textile industries. Availability of labour in many industries was another factor responsible for the implementation of rationalisation process, especially in coal industries, which were highly expanded during war to offer additional production. After the war the owners could not save their labour force. These factors together led to the implementation of rationalisation. There was opposition on the part of workers when rationalisation was implemented. Few safeguards were laid out for the workers by the labour ministry and the planning commission. Yet the workers complained that the employers in establishing the scheme did not stick on to these safeguards. The approach to rationalisation was made clear in the second five-year plan. The rationalisation was to be tried only when it did not lead to unemployment. If it was implemented, it was to be discussed with the workers. And it was to be prompted only after improving the working conditions and ensuring a share of the profit to the workers. 15.3.2 Impact of technological change Let us have a quick overview of the impact of technological change on industrial relations. Technological change has a great impact on industrial activity. Its impact on employment is one of the important economic aspects of automation. Installing a huge number of automatic machines at the same time generates severe problems of unemployment. This is because by presenting automation, the number of employees for the same output is reduced. In our country one of the growing problems is unemployment and underemployment. The path of technological change, just like other characteristics of industrial life, is influenced by many features of the general situation in which it takes place. The basic features consist of the reaction of
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the representatives of management and trade union, towards a particular change project, the relation between these two sides and the effect of that relationship on the result of the change. The significance of the industrial relations context has been given by many well-known figures. A statement was made after a study was conducted in a steel industry, it states, the social factors are assessed which encourages or discourages technical change; it was determined that one of the most vital factors of these was the organisation of management-union relations1. It was also shown that the unions and their members would accept technical change, and co-operate in implementing it, given that certain conditions are fulfilled. Among these conditions, one of the important conditions was the complete credit of the union and its role, the approval of approved principles related to the restructuring of employees and the re-absorption of the redundant, and the conservation and enhancement of the conditions and rewards of those relocated. Hence, it is clear that changes in the technology might produce a bargaining situation in which wages, conditions of employment, worker selection and organisation of work come up for reconsideration. The strategies adopted by the bargaining parties should therefore form a part of the analysis of the effects2. For example, it may be the instance that some will state their power by making themselves necessary or by taking a strategic position, while others will fall back on the other means of resistance. The effects of a change are, largely on the result of the power poses of the parties, and the way they make use of the situation. Self Assessment Questions 4. The most important of the social factors was the structure of ____. 5. Changes in the technology might produce a bargaining situation in which _____, ______, ____, and _____ come up for reconsideration. 6. Modern technologies are both thrilling and frightening, which does not bring problems. (True/False)? 7. What is rationalisation? 8. Technological change where the technology only manages or controls the operations is called _____.

1 2

Scott etal. (1956) Reynaud, 1972.

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Activity 2: Suppose a technological change has taken place in an industry near to your house. Prepare a list of the positive and negative impact of the technological change on industrial relations.

15.4 Technology Assessment and Environmental Impact Analysis

In the previous section, we studied about technological change and industrial relations; let us now study about technology assessment and environmental impact analysis (EIA), which is also called as the environmental impact assessment. Technology should become self-evident that each technology assessment should answer the question does this technology intrude in any way upon the problem areas of technology? If so, is the impact beneficial or, if it not, can the technology be altered so as to make a more positive contribution to the solution of a problem? And if that is not possible, can the negative impact be used in a better way? Or should the technology be dropped? The effects of activities that are not addressed for in the common area of transactions need to be considered in the decision making processes. All these effects should be identified, assessed, and evaluated against the economic advantages rising from a given activity. Here, the environmental impact assessment is considered to be the vital process as they provide a way to humankind to consider the effects of their activities on the environment. There is economic development because of the association of natural resources and technology maintained by us and designed for us. It is us who are in the centre for development. Hence it is said that all human activity whether it is economic, social, or anything else is basically to fulfil the requirements of us through modifying and using environmental resources. 15.4.1 Environmental impact analysis process We can define environment impact analysis or assessment as an activity to identify, predict, interpret, and pass information about the impact of an activity on humans health and well-being.
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The following are the EIA process steps: 1. The first step is to make a fast examination of the basic environmental resources land, air, and water. This is done at a macro level where the project is to be located. The scanning is performed to evaluate the amount of fragility and exploitation of the resource base. The project and regional environment is then related. 2. The second step is to separate the project zone. 3. The third step is to identify, assess, and define all the environmental attributes. 4. The fourth step is to rank environmental resources by their fragility, significance and quality. 5. The fifth step to carry out review on every aspect of effects of the proposed project on the identified individual environmental resources available in the project zone. 6. The sixth step is to categorise the effects in a systematic order. 7. The seventh step is to prepare remedial plans for diminishing negative effects. 15.4.2 Guidelines on the scope of EIA The following are the guidelines to be present in the EIA report: The project proposed action should be described. The description includes a statement of its purpose, and a description of all related technical information to offer a clear and complete understanding of the proposed action. This also includes various materials, resources, and others involved. The connection of the proposed activity to the land use plans, policies and controls in the affected area or the project should be provided. It is required to understand the affected environment. The important aspects which should be considered in detail are the possible impacts of the proposed project on the environment. Any possible negative environmental effect that cannot be avoided and addressing how each avoidable impact will be diminished. The connection between local short term uses of humans environment and the maintenance of and improvement of long term production. Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources are indicated. Alternative actions to the proposed action are indicated, includes actions which are not present in the authority.
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15.4.3 Issues in preparation of EIA report The following are the issues reported to have been come across while carrying out and making the EIA. Few issues cannot be solved. If there are no alternatives, the analyst as to take the issues as they are. The issues are: Determine the environmental impact: This is the main concept in EIA. This is a very complicated process. At the beginning, the environmental impact and the changes in the environmental attributes should be clearly distinguished. The determination of environmental impact includes the impacts on environmental attributes have to be found out, the impact on attributes have to be measured, and to show the total impact on environment the impacts on attributes should be aggregated. Identify the impact: There is infinite number of attributes to be evaluated. This is because any property of the environment is considered to be an attribute. Hence the number should be minimised to get finite manageable number. Therefore, redundant, duplicative, tough to measure, and unclear attributes can be discarded. This infers that few attributes which are tough to measure can still be examined. Properties of the base: Conditions before the activity The type of the impact is determined using the conditions of the environment living prior the project. To assess the properties of the base is an important factor. Character of attributes: The impacts are the effects on the actual distinct attributes of the environment. Nature does not respect humans discrete categories. The actual impact might be the effect of changing severity on a range of interrelated attributes. The problem is one of finding out and assessing the source condition effect to solve for remedial measures. Amount of impact: All the impacts should be converted into common unites. But this is not possible. Because it is tough to define impacts in common units. And also the computations of some impact are difficult. Aggregation issue: The problem of how to aggregate all impacts arises after measuring the project impacts on different individual attributes. This includes depicting the different impact measures in common units, which is tough.
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Indirect impacts: These are secondary impacts on environment. They should be considered specifically in association to the infrastructure investments that prompts secondary effects. The secondary effects are in the form of related investments and altered outline of social and economic activity. This induced growth shows changes in the natural conditions. Likewise, there can also be important secondary impacts in the biophysical environment. Accumulating impacts: The accumulation means the similar activities distributed over in an environment making beach, hotels, resorts, mines, and others. One activity can produce a small effect on environment. Yet, a set of similar activities can produce a large cumulative effect on particular aspects of environment. The question of how to deal with these cumulative effects rises. Thus it is advised to perform an EIA on huge programmes instead on a series of small actions. EIA for a specific geographical area can be prepared where a set of similar activities are present. Reporting results: The result should be shown in an easy and clear way to understand the total impacts of an activity from a short review. It is preferred to show the impacts on a summary sheet in a matrix form.

15.4.4 Elements of the environmental problem While speaking of problems related with the use of technology, natural environment is the first thing we think about. Let us look at the main elements of the problem. Air pollution The well known greenhouse effect is caused by carbon-dioxide. The combustion of fossil-fuels produces carbon-dioxide. That is done by methane which is escaped from natural gas, and by propellant and refrigerant gases, the chloro-fluoro carbons (CFCs). If the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere increases, then the average temperature of the earth also increases. This results in climatic changes. The ozone layer is being destructed. The ozone layer is around 24 km above the earth. This acts as a protective shield against the ultraviolet radiation. The ozone layer is depleting because of the CFC gases. The exposure to ultra violet radiation causes skin cancer. Hence, the layer should be protected by limiting the generation of CFCs.
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A number of effects caused by increased amount of gases like nitrogen oxide, acid rain, carbon monoxide, and presence of pollutants, such as, burnt elements of fuel and soot. The outcomes range from occurrence of smog, an increased incidence of bronchitis, asthma, and others to damaging effects on trees and forests.

Water pollution Air pollution eventually turns into water pollution. The major effects are caused by two aspects Waste products let out from factories, farms, and homes. Waste products include high amounts of nitrates, heavy metals like lead or cadmium, phosphates, various types of toxic chemicals, and others. These have many effects, such as, Alzheimers disease, health risks to infants, and many others. Sometimes toxic chemical spills or oil spills may happen. The aquatic life is seriously affected, and their interdependent living things are also affected. The coastal waters are polluted due to inefficiently treated sewage. When the fish and other edible animals are consumed, they lead to severe health hazards. Fertilizers used in agriculture eventually get washed into water bodies. The presence of nutrients in the water results in the growth of algae and a reduction of oxygen causes death of fishes. The chemicals in water bodies affect severely the aquatic life and also the use of water. The availability of clean water for human purposes has become very problematic. Thus we have to carefully handle resources, with good sewage treatment so that water can be re-used after primary utilisation for secondary purposes like irrigation. Desalination of sea water is another way to get fresh water. But this needs huge energy, unless it is carried out in an intelligent way by combining semi-permeable membranes and solar energy. Other types of pollution The major factor of pollution is trash. We are sinking in rubbish from unwanted packaging, unwanted batteries, unwanted oil, unwanted machinery, and so on. This indicates huge problems of safe disposal as some of the trash is toxic and polluting, and poses to be hazardous when it percolates into ground water. It is becoming tough to find space to live, and tough to use old sites for constructing or recreation because
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they have so much toxic elements. A simple solution lies in recycling instead of throwing away, but there are serious technical and economic issues to be overcome. Some trash can be burnt and the heat generated usually methane can be extracted, which is a useful product. Few small beginnings with both the reduction and utilisation of trash have been made. There are comparatively harmless nuisances, like what has been stated noise pollution. Noise pollution is caused by noisy vehicles and machines, and is a question to make better by technical means. Modern aircrafts noise is less compared to the noise from older aircrafts. Noise pollution is intensified by low acoustic quality of buildings, and standards can be improved. Noise pollution is also caused by extremely noisy music and motorcycles. Traffic pollution is caused due to increasing number of vehicles. Traffic contributes to air pollution, sometimes causes death and injury taking away so many lives. The solutions to these problems are very much required use public transport by reducing the use of personal vehicles for only one person, and others. The corrosion of soil occurs because of the use of heavy machinery, mono-cultures of crops, lack of organic fertilisers, and overuse of chemicals. Soil becomes compacted and poor and significant amounts get blown away by the wind. This is called dust pollution. Rainforests are being destructed by humankind for their personal use. Rainforests are the home to many known and unknown species of flora and fauna, animals, and also people. The plants include medicinal plants which are of high significance. Those are the homes to people who have stayed there since the beginning of humankind. The use of technology has greatly accelerated forest clearance; however, there are no technical answers to the problem of the disappearing forest.

Self Assessment Questions 9. Air pollution eventually turns into ________. 10. While speaking of problems related with the use of technology ________ is the first thing we have to consider. 11. What is dust pollution?

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12. There is no need to state the avoidable negative environmental effects in the EIA report. (True/False)? 13. What is the sixth step in the EIA process? Activity 3: Consider that you are a manager of a company. How will you bring about changes to reduce the pollution within your organisation? (For example, do not use printer often to save paper, or reuse the single sided paper for printing.)

15.5 Summary
This unit familiarised us with the concept of social issues related to technology management. It is us who can control the affects directly or directly and be benefited to the maximum. We also studied about technological change and industrial relations. In this we saw how the advancements in technology changed the industry including relations with staff, competitors, and others which helped the industry to grow higher. We also discussed about technology assessment and environmental impact analysis. We learnt that not only humankind is affected by technology but also all the living-organisms are affected to a great extent. We have to take the initiative to safeguard all the living creatures on this planet.

15.6 Glossary
Term Acoustic quality Desalination Organic fertilisers Definition The ability or a characteristic to absorb or control sound is called the acoustic quality It is a process of removing dissolved salt and other minerals from seawater to obtain freshwater. An animal or plant product or by-product is used as fertiliser. This includes manure, seaweed, compost, and so on. A membrane which allows only certain molecules to pass through it is called semi permeable membrane.

Semi-permeable membrane

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15.7 Terminal Questions

1. What are social issues? 2. Explain technological change and industrial relations. 3. Discuss the technology assessment and environmental impact analysis. 4. Enlist the issues involved in the preparation of EIA report. 5. Explain air pollution, water pollution, and other pollution in detail.

15.8 Answers
Self Assessment Questions 1. Social issues. 2. True. 3. Technological. 4. Management-union relations. 5. Wages, conditions of employment, worker selection and organisation of work. 6. False. 7. Rationalisation is defined as a general modification or change in the control and structure of the industrial activities. 8. Automation. 9. Water pollution. 10. Natural environment. 11. Soil becomes compacted and poor and significant amounts get blown away by the wind. 12. False. 13. The sixth step of the EIA process to categorise the environmental effects in a systematic order. Terminal Questions 1. Refer section 15.2 Social Issues. 2. Refer section 15.3 Technological Change and Industrial Relations. 3. Refer section 15.4 Technology Assessment and Environmental Impact Analysis. 4. Refer sub-section 15.4.3 Issues in Preparation of EIA Report. 5. Refer sub-section 15.4.4 Elements of the Environmental Problem.
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15.9 Case Study

With the evolution and development of information and communication technology communities, relationships, and cultures have been severely affected, particularly as an effect of the growing availability and speed of communication platforms. As people include all the evolving technologies into their life they gradually tend to lose contact with their social life, cultural values, and traditional society. In this study, it is shown that social activities are logically personified in a cultural background. A traditional social activity of ABC Country tea drinking is considered as the study to show ample cultural features of this activity. Because these features combine with and influence people's social lives, developing a deeper understanding of this relationship could serve to enrich computermediated communication or interaction designs in the future. In this study, numerous user experience investigation methods are implemented in exploring Tea drinking custom of ABC Country, and, founded on the findings, an enhanced cultural model is planned to show the cultural significance of this activity. Also, numerous design suggestions for software related to social contact and cultural tradition are provided. Introduction In ABC Country, the quick growth of information and technology, the Internet, and others has acted a specific and significant role in people's social lives. The ease of access to different rising communication media, as well as the speed of communication that these provide, has changed not only people's cultural and local living contexts but also their interpersonal relationships. These developing technology devices and applications both support new platforms for communication and offer numerous possibilities for an unparalleled increase in social interactions. At that time, these connections have occupied on various types and characteristics with diverse means. There is now an array of new social communities, virtual and physical. In this research, we will see that social activities are naturally rooted in a cultural context. Yet, social hints, cultural values, and features of traditional society are not normally considered in the search of developing new technologies for social contact. For this reason, a study of a traditional social activity in ABC Country is provided with the idea of finding the abundant cultural features
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of this activity. An understanding of these features, which combine with and impact people's social lives, could provide to improve computermediated communication or information designs in the future. Cultural Dimensions of Technology Development Cultural differences directly impact decision-making, when it points to the determined target of globalisation for several marketable software and online applications. Cultural liking have become one of the most major concepts and emphases of technology development, as it gradually goes away from topics of usability to topics of accomplishing customers' cultural and social necessities. In the next stage of technology development, it can be estimated that the most vital concern will be to understand the needs of customers all over the world, with respect to dissimilarities in behaviour, customs, and language. Questions: 1. What are the challenges faced by the cultural community? 2. Name the differences that directly influence the target of globalisation for software and online applications. References Technology in context: Technology assessment for managers, Ernest Braun http://resources.metapress.com/pdfpreview.axd?code=1gvp09p1y7n7rc3b&size=largest http://www.arjay.bc.ca/EthTech/Text/Ch8/Ch8.3.html

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