Technology and Flexibility (Byte Size) Course 1 Lessons only £60.00
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Technology as a means to facilitate the production of goods and services has always been with us. Technology describes systems of production on which all human beings depend, to a greater or lesser extent. These systems range on a continuum from the very primitive basic tools to the very sophisticated micro-electronics.
Our focus in this course is on technology and technological change during the twentieth century within industrialised societies. We look at the dominant production systems and their effects upon people who work with them. In particular, we examine some of the debates concerning the major twentieth century technological development within the workplace. This is the system of mass production, or extreme specialisation, and its implications for workforce and management. We look at the technological developments which may supersede mass production and the controversies concerning these developments.
We start with the problem of definition and then move on to a consideration of Fordism. We look at the concept of alienation in relation to technology and the important contribution of the American researcher, Blauner. We then go on to deal with post-Fordism and flexible specialisation. Finally, we examine new technology and its impact upon manufacturing and the office.
After participating in this course, you should be able to:
- define technology and identify different types of mechanisation.
- identify some of reasons for technological change.
- describe what Durkheim identified as the fundamental differences in technological and social organisation between a pre-industrial and an industrial society.
- describe the impact of division of labour upon an industrial society.
- define Fordism and outline its production system.
- identify the advantages, drawbacks and limitations of Fordism.
- relate Marx's concept of alienation to work in modern technological settings.
- describe the work and conclusions of Blauner on alienation, along with some assumptions and limitations of technological determinism.
- explain the relationship between control, de-skilling and technological change in labour process theory, and identify some of the theory's limitations.
- identify in a contemporary industrial example the characteristics of post- Fordism.
- describe how work and technology are developing in the view of flexibility theorists, the reasons they see for this, and the likely effects for employees and organisational management.
- describe some criticisms of flexibility theory and outline some of the drawbacks and limits to flexibility.
- describe the characteristic features of new technology.
- explain how new technology can increase skill requirements and improve the quality of working life.
- describe convergence theory and its implications in basic terms.
- Course Syllabus
- Qualifications
- Fees
- Professional Membership
- Support
- Student Community
- Study Options
- Benefits
- Related Courses
- Further Info
Syllabus
Introduction
Objectives
Section 1: Technology at Work and Technological Change
Technology: definitions and perspectives
Imperatives of technology
Division of labour
Scientific management: contributions of Adam Smith and Charles Babbage
Contribution of F W Taylor
Section 2: Emergence of Fordism
Henry Ford's system
Section 3: Alienation and De-skilling
Marx and alienation
Alienation after Marx
Technology and alienation: the Blauner study
De-skilling: technological development as a means of control
Section 4: After Fordism
Post-Fordism
Flexible specialisation examined
The flexible firm
Criticisms and evaluation of theories of flexibility
Further evidence on flexible labour approaches
Limits to flexibility
Flexibility: the future - a review of the post-Fordist debate
Section 5: New Technology and Work Organisation
Evolution of new work technology
Information technology and its uses
Replacement or compensation
Impact of new technology upon manufacturing
Impact of new technology in the office
Summary
Tutor-marked Question Paper
Qualifications
Qualification 1: Technology and Flexibility (Byte Size) Certificate
Technology and Flexibility (Byte Size) Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Cert after your name.
Requirements for Entry
There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.
Fees
| Cash Price | Deposit | Installments | No of Payments |
| £60.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | 0 |
Professional Membership
On completion of this course you will be eligible to join the following Professional Associations(s):
On successful completion of your course your qualification is awarded. You will receive an attractively presented Diploma or Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, this will also allow you to use the letters SAC. Dip. or SAC. Cert. after your name.
Stonebridge Associated Colleges is one of the leading (and biggest) distance education colleges in the U.K and internationally. We have many thousands of students studying with us at any one time from locations all over the world. Our diplomas will always count towards your future, and will improve your prospects of future employment or higher level study etc. by proving that you have studied to a certain level, that you have proficiency in your chosen subjects and that you are interested in your field of choice. Education is always an investment in your future and you will find this to be the case with our qualifications in your jurisdiction.
Tutor Support
With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.
You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!
Assessment Method
After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.
Student Community
We understand that studying from home may be a new experience for you. You could even be excused for feeling a little dauntedsince you will not be studying in a traditional "classroom environment". To help our students overcome these concernswe have developed the Student Zone. The Student Zone encourages a high level ofinteraction with your tutor and other like-minded students.
All of our students receive access to the Student Zone,within this area you can:
- Access the student forum which allows you to share ideas and chat with other students.
- View your tutor's feedback on your marked assignments.
- View optional reading lists for your course (where available).
- Access free online games, for when you need a break from studying.
- View the study guide with plenty of useful hints and tips on how to get the most out of your course.
- Access free courses such as: Improving Learning Skills, Job Interview Skills, The Effective Learner, Goal Setting and Time Management, Ten Tips to Complete a Good Test Paper.
- Find details on our generous Referral Programme.
Study Options
In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:
- 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
- 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.
When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.
Elearn Prices
Please note that payment by installments is not available when studying via Elearn.
| Cash Price | Deposit | Installments | No of Payments |
| £50.00 | x | x | x |
Study Hours
This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.
The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 20 hrs.
Benefits
What's Included
- All study materials
- Study Guide
- Full Tutor and Admin support
Additional Benefits
This section is designed to help you with your study. It will help you to work more efficiently, manage your study time, improve your presentation of work, increase your ability to remember facts and concepts, and get the most out of your chosen course.
Studying is more than gathering information and reproducing it in assessment tasks such as essays and examinations. Studying involves knowing how to approach a problem, analysing the problem, identifying what you already know, deciding how to gather more information, and much more. This section will help you gain and improve your skills in studying.
Course outline
Studying is an active process. Open learning materials enable adult learners to take responsibility for their own learning. This course has been prepared as an open learning resource for people who wish to undertake a learning programme that involves them preparing for a period of studying. It is designed either to form part of any course of study or may be used as a freestanding guide by students.
You can use this course, as an active learner, to identify:
- what you know already
- what you need to know
- what interests you
- how to use your knowledge to enhance your critical awareness.
This course will enable you to improve your study skills and it is designed for students, practitioners and other people involved in learning and/or being assessed.
Syllabus
- Introduction and Objectives
- Learning to Learn
- Setting Aside Time for Study
- Concentration
- Effective Reading
- Effective Note-taking
- Preparing to Write
- Planning and Writing the Assignment
- Assessment
- Basic Research
- Introduction to Computers
- Spreadsheets and Excel
- Using Databases and Access
- Word Processing with MS Word
Cost of course: FREE to Elearnuk students
Cost to non-Elearnuk students: £125.00
Getting the job you want is not about following rules or giving the 'right' interview answer. It is about presenting yourself in the most authentic way that takes care of you and the interviewers at the same time. So many people throw their chances away: they do not take enough care and interview preparation time so that the whole process is enjoyable, stimulating and informative for both parties. This section aims to show you how.
This section will consider the importance of study skills and how we can identify and enhance our current skill set. We will then take a closer look at different learning styles and how knowledge of our own preferences in this area can make our learning more effective. Finally we will look at some basic time management techniques to enable you to plan and organise your studies and stay motivated.
Our friendly tutors are ready to help with any queries you may have. You need never feel stranded or cut off from help!
A collection of games to sharpen your concentration or just take time out from studying.
A collection of reference materials, links to e-journals, and reading lists compiled by our tutors
Looking for a second opinion? The forum is the place for students to share their thoughts and information with each other.
Regularly updated links to the latest news items!
Related Courses
Below you will find a list of courses that previous students have taken to complement their course. We hope that this list will give you some idea of the types of progression courses we offer, or alternative course options that may be of interest to you.
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Further Information
If you would like any further information regarding this course, please call an advisor today on 01288 356 300 (International: 00 44 1288 356 300) or email enquiries@stonebridge.uk.com
