Socio-Dets and Techno-Dets : Determinants of Diffusion and Implementation Patterns of Automated Machine Tools

Typical of many cases of technology diffusion and implementation, machine tool automation has stimulated debate about the relative influence of social and technological factors. It is argued that reconciliation of these views requires (a) a realistic model of the firm in its environmental and managerial contexts, (b) a conceptual framework that incorporates technological, economic, political and symbolic forces in the processes of diffusion and implementation, and (c) a heuristic strategy that allows these forces to play relatively more and less important roles depending on the time-span and level of aggregation of analysis. Examination of the case of machine tool automation suggests that while social forces may play a central role in the analysis of specific plants, technology and economics assume relatively greater importance in the analysis of aggregate patterns and trends