Identity and technology: Organizational control of knowledge-intensive work

Authors

Guowei Jian, Cleveland State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-16-2008

Publication Title

Qualitative Research Reports in Communication

Abstract

Much has been written about the functioning of managerial ideologies in identity-based organizational control. However, less attention has been given to the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and identity defined by a technological discourse in regulating knowledge-intensive work. The purpose of this research is to examine the roles of identity and ICTs in the control of knowledge-intensive work. A case study of a technology service organization reveals that the construction and consumption of a technologist identity operate as organizational control, and that ICTs enable the functioning of a dialectic of technological control. This study also demonstrates the paradoxical nature of work knowledge that both empowers and controls knowledge-workers.

DOI

10.1080/17459430802400365

Version

Postprint

Publisher's Statement

This is an Author’s Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Qualitative Research Reports in Communication 10-16-2008 , available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17459430802400365

Recommended Citation

Jian, G. (2008). Identity and technology: Organizational control of knowledge-intensive work. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 9(1), 62-71. doi:10.1080/17459430802400365

Volume

9

Issue

1