Consequences of Computing:
A Framework for Teaching
Importance of the Dimensions - Page 11 of 36
Within any particular organization, there are likely to be differing points of view on the use, regulation, promise, and design of a technology. These differences will depend on organizational structure and culture, on workplace procedure, on the amount of power and areas of interest each group within the organization has, and on the position in the hierarchy an office or other workplace inhabits. For example, in designing a scheduling and appointment system for a hospital, the designer will need to take into consideration the differing agendas of doctors, nurses, administrators, and technical personnel [55]. Some of the groups within the organization will want the system to give them unique privileges, and there may well be disagreement within the organization about who should make final decisions about the design and use of the system. Designers of a computer system within this environment cannot "fix" the power conflicts in the organization, nor should they try. But if they are aware of the organizational dynamics that are occurring, and have words and categories to describe it, they may be able to design a better system that is more widely used and appreciated.
Privacy is a major ethical issue that confronts organizations today (and those computer professionals who design databases for organizations). Individuals' reactions vary to being monitored, or to having personal information recorded about them [3]. But organizations have powerful economic incentives to collect this sort of data and to store it in easily accessible forms. The computer designer who understands these incentives will be in a better position to discuss privacy issues with a client or employer, and can integrate a concern for the legitimate information needs of the organization (e.g. verifying the identity of customers) and concerns for the privacy of the individuals.
Organizational imperatives that require work groups to value production above all else are often the culprits in poor quality of products or services or even unsafe systems. For example, where radiation therapy has become common, many hospitals, emphasize getting patients through the radiation therapy clinic as quickly as possible. This emphasis on speed and production can cause serious safety hazards [25, 44]. Thus designers of medical technology need to be aware of the organizational environment in which the technology they design will be used.
Again, every computing professional will either be a member of one or more organizations in their career or need to think about technology as it influences or is influenced by these organizations.
