Reclaiming Productivity: Critical Perspectives on Speculative Futures

Abstract

New technologies are often introduced into organisations with promises of increased productivity. Yet productivity is often narrowly defined, and the impacts of technologies on future work practices are poorly understood. This paper reports on workers’ concerns and reflections on future work practices in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry. In a series of semi-structured interviews, we engaged 17 industry participants, who responded to a set of speculative design brochures that imagine alternative technological futures. The findings show workers experience erosion of job satisfaction, shared purpose, and embodied craft. Drawing on participants’ reflections, we propose tha..