Industrial Automation and the Transformation of Work Organization: Three Case Studies in West Malaysia

Abstract

Based on qualitative discussions of three enterprises operating under different sets of imperatives in Malaysia, this article attempts to show how an integrative and developmental approach to the study of technology and its impact will provide a more meaningful understanding of the issues involved. While competitive pressures incessantly drive entrepreneurs towards acquiring increasingly sophisticated production systems, the impact of technological innovation is shaped by a larger variety of forces including state intervention, relative strength of the working class and the type of hardware available in the market.