Modern Technology in Provincial Offices: Some Empirical Evidence

Data from some 300 business service offices in eight British provincial cities is used to show that the adoption of information processing and telecommunications (IPT) equipment has been selective in relation to the status, function and location of establishments. Possession of certain kinds of IPT equipment increases the likelihood of other items being present. There is an inverse relationship between size of urban area and attitudes towards office technology and its adoption. Offices can be classified into a minority of positive adopters; a much larger group of conservative adopters; and a residual group of traditionalists, resolutely refusing to adapt their working practices.