ABSTRACT
The transformation of the economy has resulted in a new workplace configuration which is an integral part of what Michael Katz labels the post-industrialized society. An individual with low level skills could generate a living wage based upon the workplace theory of specialization. Assigning workers specific repetitive tasks which were quite easy to learn resulted in mass production as the basic component of the American marketplace. Computer technology emerged and the automation of mass production resulted in downsizing of the workplace. The emergence of a new workplace design is the result of the need for companies to downsize their staffs while at the same time increase the productivity of their workers. Technology is changing the way US citizens live, work, and play. The microcomputer and business software applications have placed a priority upon hiring individuals who are computer literate. The new economic realities of the workplace require individuals to perceive their opportunities for employment from a different perspective.
