Article Report on Head

My article report focuses on Head’s article “The Rise of Reengineers”. Head explains that the ideals taught by Leffingwell in his books of the 1800’s, including Office Management: Principles and Practices, still influence processes today. Head brings into question the “reengineering” of operational and managerial processes. Head claims that by reengineering operations, it can enable the less skilled to perform work as if they were a highly trained experts. He states that reengineering can also change the dynamic between managers and employees, as many workers’ skills become devalued by computer technology. Head also speaks of managers becoming the “electronic eye” by simply watching over all of their workers in demeaning ways. Ultimately, managers use their complete dominance to squash any rebellion that may arise during the work process, weakening the bargaining power and security of employees. He claims that the information technology changes the workforce today by requiring workers to have a certain set of new workplace skills, and the mundane need for scheduling and measuring of each task. Head concurs that information technology has the power to “automate” and “informate” allowing processes to be performed with greater continuity and control.

The article “The Rise of reengineers” by Simon Head was published as a chapter of his book, The New Ruthless Economy: Work and Power in the Digital Age (2003). Head wrote this book intending to give business or workers insight on how the impact of information technology can affect their daily work lives. The author Simon Head is a senior and associate fellow at the Rothermere American Institute (RAI), Oxford since 2005. The RAI is a community of students and scholars based out Oxford that focus on topics with American history, culture, politics, and international relations. With recent speakers including Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and President Jimmy Carter, RAI is a very prestigious organization which gave Head insight on many different American business operations. In addition to being a fellow at this institute, he gained expertise on the processes of operations from being the Director of the Project of Technology and the Workforce for Century Foundation in New York from 1998-2003. He also expands his credibility through being the Correspondent for the Financial Times in South East Asia. Both his national and international background involving business models, operating activities, and financial processes created a great comprehension for ideals in his book involving the “ruthless economy”. However, the title of the book may lead the reader to assume that Head has a preconceived critical view on how businesses operate today. A book review by Harvard Business Review even states that Head’s book provides the reader with a “sobering view of the workplace”, further stating that his book sheds light on how today’s workplace does not liberate their workers but further regiments them. This “sobering” view of the workplace given to the reader by Head’s book has also been called “provocative and thoughtful” by the Library Journals, as well as “acute and clearly presented” by the New York Review of Books. These reviews depict that the article was received as informative, eye opening, and stimulating by the audience.   

Here is a picture of Simon Head