ABSTRACT
An important facet of the restructuring of the private sector in recent years, especially in the realm of manufacturing, has been investment and technical change (Massey, 1984). This category of restructuring refers to capital investment in new forms of machinery and equipment and is often associated with substantial reductions in employment levels. Relatively little is known about the impact of new technology in the public sector, although a wide range of innovations have been made in recent years. These include the computerisation of health and welfare service records, the introduction of electronic diagnostic equipment in hospitals, cook-chill catering systems, computerised record keeping in libraries and distance learning systems in education (Gershuny and Miles, 1983).
