Mascha Will-Zocholl

The dissertation analyses current changes of work and it describes their consequences in the context of informatization (Schmiede 2006), internationalization (Boes/Kämpf 2007) and organizational restructuring (Castells 1996; Marchington et al. 2005). The topic is embedded in current discussions about transforming societies from post-industrial into information or knowledge societies (Bell 1975; Castells 1999 and 2000). Knowledge work is considered to be an indicator for the status of social change and a transformation in the mode of employment (Drucker 1979; Willke 1998).

My key question is how the nature of engineers’ work has changed through the use of new technologies and as a result of the restructuring of organizational boundaries. In addition, I also ask which consequences for engineers and the international distribution of engineers’ work emerge from these changes?

Engineering in the automobile industry, the most innovative industry, is closely connected with the use of technological innovations (VDA 2004). Therefore, especially engineers engaged in product development are good subjects for examining these changes. The use of modern technology has fundamentally transformed their work: Models are no longer designed on the drawing-board, but created and simulated by the use of digitized 3D-Models (Digital Mock Up).

In addition, the content of engineering tasks has changed in the course of internal organizational restructuring and globally shifting organizational networks. Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are important tools for collaboration, not only with other departments or with other locations of the firm, but also with suppliers and engineering service companies.

Empirically, the dissertation is based on case studies in the automobile industry and pursues a multi-method approach. The project combines the analysis of statistic data and documents with qualitative interviews targeting experts in automobile firms, in academic research institutes as well as in unions.

It focuses on the investigation of organizational settings in the process of product development and uses guided qualitative interviews with engineers working in engineering centers to draw a picture of the changing nature of (engineering) work and its consequences.