Rob Kling and Charles Dunlop
The way that computerization changes white collar work is the subject of much controversy in the research and professional communities. An examination is made of some of the key controversies about the way that computerization influences patterns of coordination control in workplaces, including monitoring. Defenders of electronic monitoring argue that managers have a right to know how effectively their suboridnates are working. However, the supervisor who stays at a distance from subordinates and has frequent measures of activity such as keystrokes, transactions, or phone calls can create a pervasive judgmental presence. The debates about up-skilling and de-skilling are complex and subtle, because a de-skilled job may be up-skilling for a person with lower skill levels. Unions are the primary means workers have used to counter the preferences of self-interested managements. Yet, white collar workers seldom unionize and professionals remain hostile towards unions.