The Disunity of Computing The Disunity of Computing Pan- -Computer Professionalism and the Computer Professionalism and the Pan Tensions of Science and Trade Tensions of Science and Trade 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 1 04 Thomas Haigh 1
Dissertation Project Dissertation Project � “ “Technology, Information & Power: Technology, Information & Power: � Administrative Technicians in Corporate America, Administrative Technicians in Corporate America, 1917- -2000 2000” ” 1917 � Organizational & Institutional Organizational & Institutional � � Identity & Professionalism Identity & Professionalism � � Technology & Practice Technology & Practice � � This paper based primarily on one of four main This paper based primarily on one of four main � sections sections � “ “Professional Identity in Administrative Computing Professional Identity in Administrative Computing” ” � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 2 04 Thomas Haigh 2
Methodology Methodology � Primarily qualitative Primarily qualitative � � With extensive use of published & unpublished survey With extensive use of published & unpublished survey � data data � Wide variety of sources Wide variety of sources � � Books, magazine, journals Books, magazine, journals � � Precis Precis prepared of more than 3,000 articles prepared of more than 3,000 articles � � Consulting reports Consulting reports � � Archival records Archival records � � Organizations Organizations � � Individuals Individuals � � “ “New Institutionalism New Institutionalism” ” � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 3 04 Thomas Haigh 3
Informatics & Professionalism Informatics & Professionalism “The School of Informatics will be foremost in The School of Informatics will be foremost in “ the country to graduate professionals professionals with with the country to graduate formal preparation in Information Technology formal preparation in Information Technology with subject area expertise.” ” with subject area expertise. � What is the profession? What is the profession? � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 4 04 Thomas Haigh 4
Computers & Professionalism Computers & Professionalism Different communities around a single Different communities around a single • • technology technology 1. Computation and Computer Science Computation and Computer Science 1. Professionalism as scientists and researchers Professionalism as scientists and researchers • • 2. Punched Cards and Data Processing Punched Cards and Data Processing 2. Professionalism as accountants or managers Professionalism as accountants or managers • • 3. Pan Pan- -Computer Professionalism Computer Professionalism 3. Professionalism as “ “Computer People Computer People” ” Professionalism as • • Implies existence of single field Implies existence of single field • • 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 5 04 Thomas Haigh 5
Professional vs. Profession Professional vs. Profession � Everyone wants to be professional Everyone wants to be professional � � This means having a profession This means having a profession � � Two things needed Two things needed � � Self Self- -conscious group of practitioners to push conscious group of practitioners to push � professionalization process professionalization process � A well defined occupation to professionalize A well defined occupation to professionalize � � Creation of new occupations less studied Creation of new occupations less studied � � Hughes, 1958: Hughes, 1958: “ “cultural mandate cultural mandate” ” � � Many emerge around new technologies Many emerge around new technologies � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 6 04 Thomas Haigh 6
The Classic Professions The Classic Professions � Slow emergence over centuries Slow emergence over centuries � � Law Law � � Medicine Medicine � � Key elements well studied Key elements well studied � � Foundation of national association Foundation of national association � � Definition of formal knowledge linked to practice Definition of formal knowledge linked to practice � � System to train and certify new members System to train and certify new members � � Right to self regulation Right to self regulation � � Legal recognition of monopoly (licensing) Legal recognition of monopoly (licensing) � � Based on claims to serve public good Based on claims to serve public good � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 7 04 Thomas Haigh 7
The Modern Professions The Modern Professions th C conscious professionalization in early 20 th � Self Self- -conscious professionalization in early 20 C � � Public service professions Public service professions � � Social workers, Teachers, Librarians Social workers, Teachers, Librarians � � Many other groups Many other groups � � e.g. hairdressers e.g. hairdressers � � All won many of the key formal attributes All won many of the key formal attributes � � Specialist qualifications required for many jobs Specialist qualifications required for many jobs � � Supported by state monopoly (licensing) Supported by state monopoly (licensing) � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 8 04 Thomas Haigh 8
Professions Within Organizations Professions Within Organizations � General shift toward professionals within General shift toward professionals within � bureaucratic structures bureaucratic structures � Particularly true of more recent professions Particularly true of more recent professions � � Accountants Accountants � � Most work within businesses Most work within businesses � � Engineers Engineers � � Mandate covers tightly demarcated sphere Mandate covers tightly demarcated sphere � � Advancement leads into management Advancement leads into management � � Co Co- -evolution of occupation and corporate evolution of occupation and corporate � department department � Professionalism often means upgrading of occupation Professionalism often means upgrading of occupation � and elevation on organization chart and elevation on organization chart 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 9 04 Thomas Haigh 9
Technicians Technicians � Ethnographic & theoretical examinations by Ethnographic & theoretical examinations by � Stephen R. Barley Stephen R. Barley � Often work as Often work as “ “buffers buffers” ” for true professionals for true professionals � � May be May be “ “brokers brokers” ” between technology and users between technology and users � � Strong occupational subcultures Strong occupational subcultures � � My My “ “Managerial technicians Managerial technicians” ” � � Systems analysts, Office Managers, CIOs, etc. Systems analysts, Office Managers, CIOs, etc. � � Claim technical sphere within management itself Claim technical sphere within management itself � � Expertise spanning technological means and organizational Expertise spanning technological means and organizational � ends ends � Never entirely successful in bridging cultures Never entirely successful in bridging cultures � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 10 04 Thomas Haigh 10
1: Computing 1: Computing & Computer Science & Computer Science Scientific Professionalism Scientific Professionalism 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 11 04 Thomas Haigh 11
Origins of “ “Computing Computing” ” Origins of � A computer: someone who performs A computer: someone who performs � computations computations � Scientific tables Scientific tables � � Calculations of orbits, etc. Calculations of orbits, etc. � � Obscure, low Obscure, low- -status job status job � � By hand or with mechanical calculator By hand or with mechanical calculator � � Labor for graduate students and assistants Labor for graduate students and assistants � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 12 04 Thomas Haigh 12
st Electronic Computer 1 st ENIAC – – 1 Electronic Computer ENIAC 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 13 04 Thomas Haigh 13
Electronic Computing Electronic Computing � New market for in Cold War New market for in Cold War � � IBM IBM’ ’s first computer, the 701, called the s first computer, the 701, called the “ “Defense Defense � Calculator” ” Calculator � Sold to aerospace firms and labs Sold to aerospace firms and labs � � $2 million for complete system $2 million for complete system � � Fits into R&D and engineering groups Fits into R&D and engineering groups � � Separate from administrative work Separate from administrative work � � Performed by science graduates, often with Performed by science graduates, often with Ph.Ds Ph.Ds � 04- -Dec Dec- -03 03 Thomas Haigh 14 04 Thomas Haigh 14
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