Empowerment and Enrichment, Impacts of Information Technology on Office Work and on Office Workers in ESB.

Empowerment has been put forward by industrial psychologists as a beneficial goal for both business and employee alike. The enrichment of life at work has been propounded by some as a means to improve morale, productivity and quality of working life. The study examines the extent to which information technology (IT) might facilitate the empowerment of office workers and the enrichment of life at work for these workers. Particular reference is made to the staff of ESB, the Irish electricity utility, which is undergoing radical organisational change. The study relates aspects of information technology and office work to their cultural, corporate and environmental context in a synthetic way. A survey was carried out among staff at the company using specifically designed written instruments in the form of questionnaires. This survey concludes that: - bodily discomfort is reported by a proportion of Respondents who use computer terminals; -there is some frustration at the inadequacy of certain software products; -electronic mail is generally perceived in a favourable light, for example in facilitating communications -people feel they would be less well-informed without E-mail; -word processing products are perceived as useful, while database products are less widely used; -Respondents do not use more exotic forms of I T such as videoconferencing; -most people feel they could not do their job as well without a computer; -IT is seen as enhancing productivity and reducing tedium; -there was improvement in the quality of life at work and in the job satisfaction of many Respondents, though not all. Finally, some recommendations are offered which may enhance the empowering and enriching ability of I T