ABSTRACT
A number of socio-economic factors could mediate between what management 'wants' to happen as a result of the introduction of microtechnology, and what actually does happen. In the first place, the investment situation of the industry making the changes and the nature of the market for its product will influence the course of events. Within the second scenario it is usually argued that an equitable process of redeployment would redress the structural unemployment problem and improve the long term employment situation. The technology may create employment both directly in the industry which grows up around the new technology, and indirectly, by virtue of the multiplier effect which the new jobs have in the surrounding economy. Socio-technical systems design, utilising job enrichment and autonomous working groups, has already been suggested as a way to increasing job satisfaction while also improving the efficiency of production.
