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The Impact of Digitalization in the Workplace pp 161–179Cite as

Agency and Learning in the Work of Software Professionals

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Part of the book series: Professional and Practice-based Learning ((PPBL,volume 21))

Abstract

This chapter addresses software professionals’ agency and learning in work characterized by a need for innovative learning and fluency in renewing work practices. The study presented was conducted with software professionals in a medium-sized Finnish company producing digital business applications. We applied a mixed-method approach to data collection and analysis. Regarding professional agency, we found a range of opportunities to influence work-related matters. The professionals were primarily able to influence their working hours and the order of their work tasks, but had fewer opportunities to influence customer projects, or their salary. To some extent, they were able to develop themselves as individuals and to share practices and knowledge within professional groups and projects. However, they expressed concerns about the organizational aim of short-term efficiency, which they viewed as constraining long-term individual and organizational development. Based on the findings, we discuss how professional agency and learning at work are intertwined and how they can be cultivated among professionals who create tools for digitalization.

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Acknowledgments

The study presented here was supported by the Finnish Work Environment Fund [Project no. 114081, Agentic Learning at Work for the 21st Century] and the Academy of Finland [Project no. 288925, The Role of Emotions in Agentic Learning at Work ].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Katja Vähäsantanen & Anneli Eteläpelto

Authors
  1. Katja Vähäsantanen
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  2. Anneli Eteläpelto
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Correspondence to Katja Vähäsantanen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Educational Science, University of Paderborn, Paderborn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Christian Harteis

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Vähäsantanen, K., Eteläpelto, A. (2018). Agency and Learning in the Work of Software Professionals. In: Harteis, C. (eds) The Impact of Digitalization in the Workplace. Professional and Practice-based Learning, vol 21. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63257-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63257-5_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63256-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63257-5

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