Labor and Automation in the Tech Workplace

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a key pillar of the datafied world?

Traditional manufacturing

Handicraft production

Machine learning (correct)

Agricultural practices

The effects of gig economy and precaritization of labor are evenly distributed across society.

False

What term is used to describe work that often goes undervalued or unpaid in the context of a datafied world?

Invisible labor

The process of creating and disciplining a new labor force through automation is part of a larger ______________.

sociotechnical story Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

Microlabor = Small, often unrecognized tasks completed online Gig economy = Labor market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work Taylorism = Efficiency-driven approach to labor management Technocracy = Governance by technical experts Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms refers to the idea that cultural changes require collective effort and may be resisted by individuals?

Collective agency Signup and view all the answers

DEI initiatives in tech effectively address deeper, systemic issues within workplace culture.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'post-scarcity' in the context of technology and society?

A socio-economic condition in which goods, services, and information are abundant and available to all. Signup and view all the answers

The __________ Workers Union is an organization that advocates for the rights of workers in the tech industry.

Alphabet Signup and view all the answers

Match the terms related to tech workplace culture with their correct definitions:

Homophily = Tendency of individuals to associate with similar others Legal Violence = Actions that maintain unequally distributed power through law Intellectual Diversity = Variety of thoughts and ideas within a group Social Closure = Exclusion from social or professional opportunities Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is crucial for understanding how experiences in tech are shaped?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

The term 'invisibilize' refers to making certain dynamics and structures of power apparent.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is one major issue with data technologies as discussed in the context of environmental consequences?

They often externalize costs and make many negative impacts invisible. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Labor in the Datafied World

Datafied world relies heavily on often-invisible labor, particularly undervalued or unpaid labor.
Platform-based gig labor is a product of both technological and global economic changes.
The effects of the gig economy and job precarity are not equally distributed.
Digital platforms allow for surveillance, management, and value extraction from labor.
Microlabor and invisible labor are key concepts.

Automation and Labor

The relationship between automation and labor is complex, not a simple case of mass unemployment.
Popular narratives about automation don't fully capture the historical or socio-technical aspects.
Automation has historically involved creating and shaping new labor forces, not just increasing efficiency.
Automation potentially has the capacity to lead to a post-scarcity society, if social organization of production changes dramatically.
Augmentation vs. substitution is a key distinction.

The Tech Workplace, Part 1: Culture and Change

Silicon Valley culture is not natural but rather shapes people and groups selectively.
Certain forms of social power are normalized through the tech workplace culture.
Changing tech culture is difficult and resisted.
Insights into tech culture frequently come from those marginalized within the system.
Successful change requires more than just individual action; collective action is crucial.

The Tech Workplace, Part 2: DEI and Cultural Change

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in tech often address only hiring and leadership representation, neglecting deep cultural issues.
DEI is more than just representation; it requires an intersectional lens to understand multiple factors affecting tech workers.
Experiences in tech are shaped by race, gender, immigration status, and intersecting factors.
Diverse voices must be fully integrated and valued for change.

Regulation (Guest Lecture)

No summary provided for this section as it was a guest lecture with no specific takeaways or key terms.

Environmental Contexts and Consequences of Data

Data and data technologies are material, requiring physical resources such as land, minerals, water, and energy.
The socio-technical imaginaries (e.g., clean tech, cloud) do not fully account for the diverse actors and material flows involved.
Planetary networks and material flows are often rendered invisible.
Costs are often externalized.
Environmental justice demands recognition of power structures, invisibilization, and externalization.
Initiatives to fix environmental issues must go beyond recognizing power and structures. They need tangible action, and a plan.

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Description

Explore the intertwined concepts of labor and automation in today's datafied world. Understand the dynamics of gig economy, invisible labor, and the implications of automation on job structures and societal organization. This quiz covers critical ideas on how technology reshapes the workforce and the economy.