From Fragmentation to Integration Summary of an Introduction to a Workshop on Cultural Aspects of Automation

Abstract

Today there is a heated debate on what are the future forms of work and how technology should be best utilized to meet both economic and social ends. In parallel there is sharpened global competition in business, where technology in itself is less seen as the prime weapon. It is rather the way it is being utilized, which depends on human resources: skills, creativity, values, commitment etc. that gives the edge. Such factors have a cultural background and we thus have to start to look at culture as a competitive advantage — or for that matter even disadvantage. How to best make us of a culture’s strong side is now becoming a profound issue for research, where technical and social expertise have to meet.