William H. Bowers – The Social Life of Information Chapter 3 – Home Alone

William H. Bowers – Topics Yearning to Breathe Free Yearning to Breathe Free Yearning to Breathe Free Yearning to Breathe Free Just a Click Away? Just a Click Away? Just a Click Away? Just a Click Away? Leaving Home Leaving Home Leaving Home Leaving Home No Room of One’s Own No Room of One’s Own No Room of One’s Own No Room of One’s Own Cooling Off Cooling Off Cooling Off Cooling Off

William H. Bowers – Topics Maintaining Balance Maintaining Balance Maintaining Balance Maintaining Balance Invisible Hands Invisible Hands Invisible Hands Invisible Hands Concentrated Effort Concentrated Effort Concentrated Effort Concentrated Effort Something for Next to Nothing? Something for Next to Nothing? Something for Next to Nothing? Something for Next to Nothing? Paradox Lost Paradox Lost Paradox Lost Paradox Lost Socializing Technology Socializing Technology Socializing Technology Socializing Technology

William H. Bowers – Yearning to Breathe Free Industrial revolution caused migration to city Industrial revolution caused migration to city Information revolution can reverse that trend Information revolution can reverse that trend Quasi-rural talk Quasi-rural talk –Tele-villages –Electronic cottages

William H. Bowers – Just a Click Away? Toffler’s prediction Toffler’s prediction –Empty downtowns –End of physical offices 1998, lowest office vacancy rate since , lowest office vacancy rate since 1981

William H. Bowers – Just a Click Away? Home workers Home workers –Predicted – 66% –Actual – less than 6% –Data is ambiguous

William H. Bowers – Leaving Home Focus is on information management Focus is on information management Ignores people management Ignores people management Ignores the frailty of technical systems Ignores the frailty of technical systems Displaces burden of work Displaces burden of work

William H. Bowers – No Room of One’s Own Hot desks Hot desks No fixed offices No fixed offices No individual PC or telephone except mobile No individual PC or telephone except mobile Non-digital belongings are stored Non-digital belongings are stored Seats can change daily Seats can change daily

William H. Bowers – Cooling Off Chaos, disruption Chaos, disruption No workspace customization No workspace customization Offices are rebuilt daily Offices are rebuilt daily No incidental learning from grouping No incidental learning from grouping Civil disobedience Civil disobedience

William H. Bowers – Cooling Off Turf wars Turf wars ‘Saving’ space ‘Saving’ space Fiefdoms Fiefdoms Built ‘virtual’ departments Built ‘virtual’ departments Learned office space is not neutral Learned office space is not neutral

William H. Bowers – Maintaining Balance Technology and innovation can be destabilizing Technology and innovation can be destabilizing Even ‘minor’ upgrades can cause problems Even ‘minor’ upgrades can cause problems Office social system can provide help Office social system can provide help

William H. Bowers – Invisible Hands This help disappears in the home office This help disappears in the home office No IT help at home No IT help at home Remote help can be difficult Remote help can be difficult

William H. Bowers – Concentrated Effort Home worker wants to work with the tools, not on them Home worker wants to work with the tools, not on them Forces user to provide own support Forces user to provide own support Systems are frequently for dedicated users Systems are frequently for dedicated users

William H. Bowers – Something for Next to Nothing? Capital costs are not the only ones Capital costs are not the only ones ‘Stealth costs’ ‘Stealth costs’ Total cost of ownership (TCO) Total cost of ownership (TCO)

William H. Bowers – Paradox Lost Technology introduction can cause economic disruption Technology introduction can cause economic disruption ‘Productivity paradox’ ‘Productivity paradox’ Technology changes faster than society Technology changes faster than society –Puts the blame on people –Lets technology off the hook

William H. Bowers – Paradox Lost 1920’s prediction that electricity would have people move out of the city 1920’s prediction that electricity would have people move out of the city Society does not ‘catch up’ Society does not ‘catch up’ It modifies technology to meet needs It modifies technology to meet needs

William H. Bowers – Socializing Technology Good design is difficult Good design is difficult Frequently ignores social resources Frequently ignores social resources Focuses on problem, not user Focuses on problem, not user Telephone initially ignored Telephone initially ignored –Telegraph favored due to expert use –Popular, social use emphasized –Introduced near lunch counters

William H. Bowers – Questions & Discussion