[comp.misc] Low Productivity of Knowledge Worke

gillies@p.cs.uiuc.edu (10/07/89)

Re:  Why hasn't office automation increased the productivity of
knowledge workers?

This is a stupid question.  Why didn't the vacuum cleaner and washing
machine save time for the 1930's housewife?  It didn't save time, but
it improved our quality of life.  With the more powerful tools, the
housewife was able to spend the same amount of time and accomplish
much more.  The resulting households were cleaner, and clothing was
cleaned more frequently, resulting in an overall increase in hygeine
with associated benefits (such as a reduction in disease).

If someone says that office automation hasn't increased productivity,
then I'd tend to think they were foolishly ignoring some hidden
increases in productivity or quality of work.