New Technology in Home Help Services — A Tool for Support or an Instrument of Subordination

Bibliographic Data

ID12311196
AuthorsMarie Hjalmarsson (University West, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume16
Issue3
Pages368-384
Publication date2009-04-15
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGender Work and Organization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-6673 • E-ISSN: 1468-0432
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-0432.2009.00449.x
OpenAlexW2020015154
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited6

The implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) is in line with a general transformation of the work of home help services in Sweden. One strong motivation behind the introduction of new technology was to change the ways of working towards greater efficiency in order to reduce costs and at the same time raise the value of care‐giving work. This article discusses the introduction of ICT in home help services as a part of the increasing rationalization of care‐giving work and its consequences for the workers. The results of an ethnographic study of the introduction of hand‐held computers in a working team in home help services in Sweden shows that the motives for the implementation of ICT run counter to the basic norms that are supposed to govern care‐giving work. The technology participates in reproducing the subordinate position of care‐giving work as well as that of the front‐line workers. The workers act according to personal decision‐making ability and show a form of limited resistance to the technology while, at the same time, taking part in their own subordination

Business · Economics · Information and Communications Technology · Information technology · Knowledge management · Management · Political science · Public relations · Rationalization (economics · Sociology · Subordination (linguistics · Work (physics · Computer Science · Emotional Labor in Professions · Engineering · Research in Social Sciences · Social Work Education and Practice

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