Office automation and the changing definition of the workplace

The introduction of telecommunications and computer technology into the workplace has profound implications for the nature of work itself. In particular, the implementation of “office automation” permits significant changes in the organization and execution of office work. It is possible that the term “office” may take on new meanings. Office automation provides the potential to alter the locational and temporal definitions of large numbers of office jobs. This discussion focuses on the phenomenon of “remote office work”, which is facilitated by developments in telecommunications and computer technology. The general position is that technology can support either positive or negative implementations of remote office work; social and economic forces, as well as policy, provide the impetus for change in one direction or the other. This discussion emphasizes one particular form of remote work, that is, work at home. The reason for this emphasis is that work at home serves as an excellent example of the wide range of potential implications of remote work.