Skip to main content

Some Remarks on Strategic Considerations for Technology Assessment

  • Chapter
Assessing the Impacts of Information Technology

Part of the book series: Program Applied Informatics ((PRAPIN))

  • 28 Accesses

Abstract

TA practitioners are often in the kind of situation psychologists would describe as an aversion-aversion conflict: If they try to apply the standards dictated by the fairly sophisticated expectations that were raised with regard to TA before the setting up of OTA they are almost doomed to failure when applying these standards in actual projects. On the other hand, when they choose to ignore the majority of the theoretical and methodical demands and attempt to tackle a given problem with the available knowledge they are certain of severe criticism after the event. In the first case, they are losing the game against reality, in the second case, they are losing the game for their reputation. Recent criticism has increasingly sought to defeat concrete TA-projects on a third ground, namely that of classifying the game as lost from the outset, at best calling it rhetoric (cf. Wynne 1975).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • BECHMANN, G. und WINGERT, B.: Technology Assessment als Rationalisierung technologiepolitischer Entscheidungsprozesse, in: J. Mathes (Hrsg.), Verhandlungen des 20. Deutschen Soziologentages. Frankfurt a.M.: Campus 1981, 314–328

    Google Scholar 

  • BOZEMAN, B. and ROSSINI, F.A.: Technology Assessment and Political Decision-Making. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 15 (1979), 25–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CAPLAN, N., et al.: The Use of Social Science Knowledge in Policy Decisions at the National Level. Ann Arbor: Center for Research on Utilization of Scientific Knowledge, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • CONNOLLY, T., PORTER, A.L., ROSSINI, F.A.: On the Evaluation of Assessment and Assessments. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 15 (1979), 73–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Facing Up to the Realities of Finiteness. The Government Executive Sep. 1980 (reprint)

    Google Scholar 

  • HAAG, F., KRÃœGER, H., SCHWÄRZEL, W., WILDT, J. (Hrsg.): Aktionsforschung, Forschungsstrategien, Forschungsfelder und Forschungspläne. München: Juwenta 1975 (2. Aufl.)

    Google Scholar 

  • HOOS, I.: Societal Aspects of Technology Assessment. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 13 (1979), 191–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KAST, F.E. and ROSENZWEIG, J.E.: Organization and Management. New York: McGraw-Hill 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • KIRSCH, W., ESSER, W.-M., GABELE, E.: Das Management des geplanten Wandels von Organisationen. Stuttgart: Poeschel 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • KOPPEL, B.: Evaluating Assessment: A Comment and a Perspective. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 14 (1979), 147–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LUHMANN, N.: Politische Planung (1966), in: N. Luhmann: Politische Planung - Aufsätze zur Soziologie von Politik und Verwaltung. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • MAYNTZ, R.: Die Implementation politischer Programme: Theoretische Ãœberlegungen zu einem neuen Forschungsgebiet. Die Verwaltung 1977, S. 51–66

    Google Scholar 

  • MILLER, G.A., GALANTER, E. and PRIBHAM, K.H.: Strategien des Handelns. Stuttgart: Klett 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Engl.: Plans and the Structure of Behavior. Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1960

    Google Scholar 

  • MOSER, H. und ORNAUER, H. (Hrsg.): Internationale Aspekte der Aktionsforschung. München: Kösel 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • National Academy of Engineering, Committee on Public Engieering Policy: A Study of Technolgy Assessment. Washington 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • NEHNEVAJSA, J. and MENKES, J.: Technology Assessment and Risk Analysis. Unpublished Paper, National Science Foundation, October 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD: Social Assessment of Technology - A Review of Selected Studies. Paris: OECD 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • PASCHEN, H., BECHMANN, G., WINGERT, B.: Funktion und Leistungsfähigkeit des Technology Assessment im Rahmen der Technologiepolitik. In: J.v. Kruedener und K.v. Schubert (Hrsg.): Technikfolgen und sozialer Wandel. Köln: Verlag Wissenschaft und Politik 1981, 57–82

    Google Scholar 

  • PASCHEN, H., GRESSER, K., CONRAD, F.: Technology Assessment - Technologiefolgenabschätzung, Frankfurt/New York: Campus 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • PORTER, A. and ROSSINI, F.: Evaluation Designs for Technolgy Assessments and Forecasts. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 10 (1977), 369–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PORTER, A.L., ROSSINI, F.A., CARPENTER, S.R. and ROPER, A.T.: A Guidebook for Technology Assessment and Impact Analysis. New York, Oxford: North Holland 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • REESE, J., KUBICEK, H., LANGE, B.-P., LUTTERBECK, R., REESE, U.: Bestandsaufnahme der Wirkungsforschung im Bereich Informationstechnologie. Ergebnisbericht. Gesellschaft für Mathematik und Datenverarbeitung, Institut für Planungs-und Entscheidungssysteme, Bonn 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • SCHACHT, K.: Sozialwissenschaftliche Begleitung als Planungsinstrument: Das Beispiel Datenverarbeitung im Gesundheitswesen. In: C. Böhret u.a. (Hrsg.), Planung in öffentlicher Hand. Opladen 1977, S. 169–177

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • TRIBE, L.H.: Technolgy Assessment and the fourth discontinuity: The limits of instrumental rationality. Southern California Law Review 46 (1973), 617–660

    Google Scholar 

  • VOLPERT, W. (Hrsg.): Beiträge zur Psychologischen Handlungstheorie. Bern, Stuttgart, Wien: Huber 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • WEISS, C.: Evaluierungsforschung. Methoden zur Einschätzung von sozialen Reformprogrammen. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag 1974 Engl.: Evaluation Research. Englewood Cliffs ( N.H. ), Prentice-Hall 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • WOLLMANN, H. und HELLSTERN, G.-M.: Sozialwissenschaftliche Untersuchungsregeln und Wirkungsforschung–Zur Chance kritischer Sozialwissenschaft im Rahmen staatlicher Forschungsaufträge. In: P. Haugns (Hrsg.), Res Publica, Festschrift für D. Sternberger, München 1977. S. 415–466

    Google Scholar 

  • WYNNE, B.: The rhetoric of consensus politics: A critical review of technology assessment. Research Policy 4 (1975), 108–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. Braunschweig

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Paschen, H., Wingert, B., Rader, M. (1983). Some Remarks on Strategic Considerations for Technology Assessment. In: Szyperski, N., Grochla, E., Richter, U.M., Weitz, W.P. (eds) Assessing the Impacts of Information Technology. Program Applied Informatics. Vieweg+Teubner Verlag, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-85393-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-85393-6_8

  • Publisher Name: Vieweg+Teubner Verlag, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-528-03591-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-322-85393-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics