The Introduction of Information and Office Technologies: The Great Divide?'

Using four case studies, the paper considers the effect of office technologies on clerical skill. This familiar theme is widened by asking to what extent resultant employment practices, e.g., staff rationalization, demise of the `office junior' system, etc., have contributed to the appearance that less skill, experience and training are now required in clerical work; and by questioning the accuracy of that impression. The issues of reducing job opportunities, changing work values and attempts at `corrective' measures through training initiatives are addressed. It is argued that these inter-related developments have created a `divide', between clerks experienced in pre-or partially-computerized systems and those with only post-computerization experience. The role played by clerical sector research in perpetuating the image of clerical work as low-status, low-skill, is considered. The current and potential implications for the effectiveness of the clerical function and, as a consequence, for employing organizations are discussed.