De l’activité au processus de rationalisation

• Main Authors: Mélanie Burlet, Romain Chevallet, Thierry Pradère
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Association Recherche et Pratique sur les Activités 2012-03-01
• Series: Activités
• Subjects: rationalisation; logistics; difficult working conditions; work; individualisation
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/activites/133

Voice guidance technology, which has been used in France for several years now, especially in the field of logistics, raises the issue of the work rationalisation involved. By analysing the work of order preparers, we demonstrate that behind this technological development lies a radical change in work organisation which affects coordination methods, forms of authority and cooperative relationships between workers. The impact on working conditions (intensification, mechanisation, de-skilling) as well as upon performance (changing habits, emergence of individualistic behaviour) is becoming more apparent. It demonstrates the need for a systemic examination to reveal that technocratic rationalisation procedures negate the individual and reimpose a traditional approach in which work can be objectified and determined. This article thus advocates an interdisciplinary approach focusing on work analysis for a better understanding of contemporary issues.