"Device Paradigm and Digital Work: An Ethnographic Inquiry into Human Values in an Organisational Setting", talk by Hameed Chughtai (Southampton Business School) Event

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In this paper, I examine the concept of device paradigm as a way to underscore the significance of human values in one’s engagement with digital work in an organizational setting. Device paradigm explains the pervasive patterns of everyday engagement with information technologies as devices that facilitate prosperity without burden and efforts and, in so doing, can downplay the human values in the everyday engagement. Although prior research on device paradigm has highlighted the significance of focal things and practices, which promote human involvement, much remains to be learned about the role of human values in the contemporary everyday engagement with technologies. Drawing on an in depth ethnography of everyday practices of young technology professionals, I use critical social theory to analyse how digital work is firmly anchored in human values, and how device paradigm can be used as a critical lens to examine the contemporary everyday engagement with information technology.