The consequences of technological innovation on the forms of work control in four "4.0 factories"

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Author/s Angelo Moro, Matteo Rinaldini
Publishing Year 2020 Issue 2020/158
Language Italian Pages 22 P. 96-117 File size 299 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2020-158005
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The affirmation of the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has revitalized the interest for control in the workplace, that has always been a core concern of organizational studies. Through empirical data, this article analyses the way in which the three forms of work control (direct supervision, bureaucratic and social) have been redefined in four mechanical or automotive companies located in the Bologna area that have initiated a process of technological transformation ascribable to I4.0. Our findings suggest that the adoption of new technologies enables the consolidation of differ-ent forms of bureaucratic control, while opening up the possibility of strengthening all forms of control and leading to a tighter integration of the mutual links between them. At the same time, however, we find that the mode and the extent to which such strengthening and reconfiguration occur depend on the organizational con-text in which these technologies are implemented.

Keywords: Control, Industry 4.0, lean production, sociomateriality

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Angelo Moro, Matteo Rinaldini, Le conseguenze dell’innovazione tecnologica sulle forme di controllo del processo di lavoro in quattro "fabbriche 4.0" in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 158/2020, pp 96-117, DOI: 10.3280/SL2020-158005