Discontinuity in transition: Pupils' experience of technology in year 6 and year 7

This paper refers to current work at Goldsmiths University of London (Understanding Technological Approaches, a project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council [research award R-000-23-3643]), in which we have tracked the design & technology project work of pupils from ages 5 to 16. The paper looks particularly at the discontinuity we have identified between the d&t experiences of pupils at the top end of primary schools and the bottom end of secondary schools. The differences between these experiences are explored by looking particularly at data relating to the ways in which teachers interact with pupils, either to direct or support the pupils in their work and at the important role discussion plays in d&t. The paper concludes that there is a critical need for teachers in both sectors to be more aware of each other's aims and priorities in order to plan experiences which will support an individual pupil's progressive development of d&t capability.     

Comparing technology education in the U.S. and U.K.

British and American discourses and experiences with respect to technology education are compared. Out of this comparison important issues are identified that have implications for the larger ongoing conversation on technology beyond these countries. They include the role of the state in establishing and validating the subject, the dual claims of technology literacy and technological capability, and dual curricular approaches — content and process.     

Discretionary technology bootlegging tensions in institutional healthcare work

We explore individuals who take some of their technology use ‘underground’, described as ‘bootlegging’, to enhance healthcare work. We find that healthcare professionals’ informal use of mobile applications in healthcare work sometimes ‘sticks out’ and this produces professional identity tensions: (1) conflict with perceptions of professional behaviour, and (2) defilement of expert judgment. Our analysis, moreover, reveals that identity work (i.e. ‘accepting’ and ‘sensemaking’) provides a coping mechanism to deal with these unresolved professional identity tensions. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the constitutive entanglements and two‐way interactions of discretionary technology bootlegging, professional identity and autonomy in institutional healthcare work.     

‘We can only request what's in our protocol’: technology and work autonomy in healthcare

This article explores the tension between standardization and autonomy raised by the implementation of new technology in healthcare organizations. The theoretical frame of this study is grounded in the impact of new technologies on work organization, routinization and autonomy across settings. Empirically it presents evidence from two NHS Trusts in England that implemented a national Electronic Patient Record (EPR). The paper aims to reinvigorate the debate on the tension between standardization and autonomy in professional workplaces such as healthcare. It argues that the implication of technology in professional work conditions processes of task routinization that constrain autonomy, and enables reallocation of discretion between professional groups. We argue that routinization is not restricted to low‐skill work but may travel across contexts and be evidenced in high‐skill work environments. The interplay between routinization and autonomy is also useful in drawing insights concerning the dynamics of change that occur in professional work.     

Old technology meets new technology: complementarities,similarities, and alliance formation

Alliance formation is commonplace in many high‐technology industries experiencing radical technological change, where established firms use alliances with new entrants to adapt to technological change, while new entrants benefit from the ability of established players to commercialize the new technology. Despite the prevalence of these alliances, we know little about how these firms choose to ally with specific firms given the range of possible partners they may choose from. This study explores factors that lead to alliance formation between pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We focus on the alliance tie as the unit of analysis and argue that dyadic complementarities and similarities directly influence alliance formation. We then introduce a contingency model in which the positive effect of complementarities and similarities on alliance formation is moderated by the age of the new technology firm. We draw theoretical attention to the intersection between levels of analysis, in particular, the intersection between dyadic and firm‐level constructs. We find that a pharmaceutical and a biotechnology firm are more likely to enter an alliance based on complementarities when the biotechnology firm is younger. Another noteworthy finding is that proxies for broad capabilities appear to be at least as effective, if not more so, in predicting alliance formation compared to fine‐grained science and technology‐related indicators, like patent cross‐citations or patent common citations. We conclude by suggesting that future studies on alliance formation need to take into account interactions across levels; for example, how dyadic capabilities interact with firm‐level factors, and the advantages and disadvantages of more or less fine‐grained measures of organizational capabilities. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The planning of technology education for South African schools

One of the recommendations made in the discussion document,A Curriculum Model for Education in South Africa (CUMSA), which was released by the Department of National Education in 1991, is that technology education should be offered for the first nine years of pre-tertiary education as a compulsory subject and for the last three years as an optional subject. This paper aims to locate technology education in the context of the sociopolitical and economic background to education in South Africa and to assess to what extent it meets the emerging aims and needs of education. Further aims are to propose a rationale for the teaching of technology at school level in South Africa, to suggest possible broad aims for the teaching of technology, to outline the nature and character of technology education relevant to the South African situation and to propose a possible methodology for technology education in South Africa. The conclusion is reached that technology education can make an important contribution to South African education if the so-called technological process is the major emphasis as this can be transformative and promote quality education.Dr Piet Ankiewicz (M Sc, D Ed, HED) is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the Rand Afrikaans University. He is responsible for teacher education programmes in the field of Science, and for an M Ed course in technology education. His areas of research include education policy and curriculum development for technology education.     

Information technology change,work complexity and service jobs: a contingent perspective

We examine the contingent impact of implementing an enterprise‐wide information technology system (Enterprise Resource Planning) on perceptions of work complexity in clerical, technical and managerial service sector jobs. Using matched and control samples of employee survey data, we compare pre‐ and post‐intervention perceptions of work complexity and importance of analytical skills across three hierarchical job levels: clerical, technical and managerial. We find that employees in clerical jobs, at the lowest level in the hierarchy, experience a significant increase in work complexity and need for analytical skills, whereas those in technical and managerial service jobs do not. Implications for theory, management of technology and employment policy are discussed.     

Marketing and technology resource complementarity: an analysis of their interaction effect in two environmental contexts

The dynamic capabilities perspective posits that a firm can leverage the performance impact of existing resources through resource configuration, complementarity, and integration, but little empirical research addresses these issues. We investigate the effects on performance of marketing capabilities, technological capabilities, and their complementarity (interaction), and whether these effects are moderated by low vs. high technological turbulence. Results from SEM two‐group analyses (with controls) show that both main effects positively impact performance in both environmental contexts. However, (1) their interaction effect is significant only in the high‐turbulence environment; (2) the marketing‐related main effect is lower in the high‐turbulence environment; and (3) the main effects of technology‐related capabilities are the same in both environments. Our research suggests that the synergistic performance impact of complementary capabilities can be substantive in particular environmental contexts: while synergistic rents cannot always be obtained, it is possible to leverage existing resources through complementarity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

简论存续企业标准化工作的新任务

论述了存续企业应重点抓好企业标准体系、标准制修订实行项目负责制、标准文本的配备、标准实施与监督、教育与培训、标准化与企业管理、标准化的"基础”与"支撑管理”作用等七方面工作.指出,存续企业应逐步跳出企业原有思路,切实搞好企业标准化工作,逐步向多元化、国际化经营战略方向发展,搞好第二次创业,走出一条切合企业实际的经营管理之路.     

Value creation in innovation ecosystems: how the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations

The success of an innovating firm often depends on the efforts of other innovators in its environment. How do the challenges faced by external innovators affect the focal firm's outcomes? To address this question we first characterize the external environment according to the structure of interdependence. We follow the flow of inputs and outputs in the ecosystem to distinguish between upstream components that are bundled by the focal firm, and downstream complements that are bundled by the firm's customers. We hypothesize that the effects of external innovation challenges depend not only on their magnitude, but also on their location in the ecosystem relative to the focal firm. We identify a key asymmetry that results from the location of challenges relative to a focal firm—greater upstream innovation challenges in components enhance the benefits that accrue to technology leaders, while greater downstream innovation challenges in complements erode these benefits. We further propose that the effectiveness of vertical integration as a strategy to manage ecosystem interdependence increases over the course of the technology life cycle. We explore these arguments in the context of the global semiconductor lithography equipment industry from its emergence in 1962 to 2005 across nine distinct technology generations. We find strong empirical support for our framework. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New social relations of digital technology and the future of work: Beyond technological determinism

This introduction sets out the context for the Special Issue and offers an in-depth reflection on key themes addressed by our contributors. The Special Issue aims to place the social relations of production at the centre of debates about technology and the future of work, and create space for greater critical reflection on what it means to go ‘beyond technological determinism’. We identify ways in which aspects of technological determinism continue to influence debates on technology, the labour process and industrial relations, despite efforts to reject it. We argue that this influence is manifested in some persistent problems within the literature including overly rigid periodisations (such as ‘platform capitalism’), a narrow conceptual repertoire (which reifies notions like ‘algorithmic control’) and a constricted empirical focus. We elucidate the value of a social shaping of technology (SST) approach to overcome these challenges and provide a brief overview of the articles contained within the issue.     

中国石油天然气股份有限公司质量管理的形势和任务

进入21世纪以来，随着全球经济一体化的飞速发展，质量成为企业在市场竞争中取胜的关键，质量管理成为企业管理的核心内容。正如美国质量管理专家朱兰博士预言的那样．21世纪已经成为质量世纪。     

Neo‐bureaucratic organisational forms,technology, control and contingent work: the case of UK TV

A feature in contemporary labour markets has been the growth of non‐standard work. This has to be set within a context of evolving new organisational forms and the ways that large organisations control these forms. Based on a qualitative study of freelance work in television, we have witnessed considerable vertical‐disintegration of the industry and a substantial growth of freelance working. Control over the network is maintained by employing former large broadcaster staff, and in turn their own preferred freelancers. This has significant implications for the nature of freelance work. While work is characterised as more insecure, generally the degree varies. This is based, in part, on occupation but also on access to social capital. Freelancers also reported a positive attitude to work, but more negative findings on working hours, work intensification and on related benefits.     

The Influences of Teacher Knowledge and Authentic Formative Assessment on Student Learning in Technology Education

Students involved in holistic technological practice need to develop an understanding of technological practice outside the classroom and to participate in tasks set as close as practicable to actual technological practice. This paper investigates the context of assessment and its relationship to achievement and the importance of teacher knowledge to student technological practice. I argue that ‘out of context’ assessment tasks do not give an accurate indication of achievement levels of the children assessed. Introduced is the Model of Student Technological Practice, which identifies four constraints that influence student technological practice. A significant factor is teacher knowledge, as it impacts greatly on the quality of feedback given to students by their teachers. Timely teacher intervention and formative assessment feedback will alter student technological practice and should improve the students’ likelihood of developing successful outcomes.     

效率增进、技术创新与GDP增长——基于长三角15城市的实证研究

本文运用数据包络分析法(DEA)测度了1999—2005年间长江三角洲15个城市国民经济的技术效率水平和技术创新水平及其对GDP增长的贡献率,并研究了2005年各城市在产出不变的情况下达到最佳经济效率所需要调整的资本和劳动力的投入数量。文章认为提高产业技术效率,优化投入要素的组合比例,加快技术引进和技术追赶步伐是推进长三角地区GDP增长的有效途径。     

The Immensity of Technology . . . and the Role of the Individual

Technology is a force that reshapes society, the dominant organizer which fundamentally changes everything. It provides material comforts and benefits but can change social patterns and values. Major innovations are happening simultaneously, stretching biological, mental and social adaptation to the limit. Technological decision making relies on an equal focus on three areas: resources (knowledge and information), expression (skills and practices) and responsibility (values and ethics). Decisions cannot be left to the ‘blackbox’ stage when functioning is effectively hidden from view and the technology has entered our culture. Similarly, participation in decision making cannot be left to a select few but must be the role of every citizen. Ensuring full participation in decisions should form the central role of technology education if it is finally to be recognized as a full member of the ‘general education club’. All students must be able to reflect, develop ethical standards and demonstrate how values are expressed through technology. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

石油工业计量工作面临的形势和任务

石油工业计量工作的现状 1998年3月以来，石油工业在管理体制和运行机制方面都经历了一系列重大变化。首先是国家把具有行政性、行业性职能的中国石油天然气总公司、中国石油化工总公司重组成为具有真正企业性质的中国石油天然气集团公司和中国石油化工集团公司，并分别形成了上下游、内外贸、产销一体化的业务格局：其次是为适应我国社会主义市     

浙商创新的理论与实践——“浙商创新：从模仿到自主”研讨会观点综述

浙商是中国改革开放以来兴起的主要出身于农民和基层百姓的“草根商人”,是中国民营经济的典型代表,开始走的主要是模仿和模仿创新的道路,现在面临诸多压力和挑战,需要加强和提高自主创新。与会者在浙商创新的理论和实践两个层面既各抒己见,又充分交流,就创新主体、模仿创新、自主创新、从模仿到自主的创新,以及制度创新、技术创新、商业模式创新和不同发展阶段的不同类型创新等发表了许多有见地和有价值的观点。     

石油高校图书馆需要强化的两项标准化工作

在网络环境中,石油高校图书馆应当认真加强两项标准化工作：一是重视文献信息资源共建共享中的标准化工作研发,二是重视RFID标准化动向,以利于石油高校图书馆发展做好超前设计与跨越式发展模式选择。     

基于作业管理的煤矿成本控制系统

本文结合煤矿企业在成本控制上普遍存在的问题,在作业管理、价值链和人力理论的基础上建立了煤矿成本控制系统。通过价值链分析确定增值作业,建立各种体系,以此来保证煤矿成本控制系统的有效性。