Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

1-31-1985

Degree Name

Master of Science in Management Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Industrial and Management Engineering

First Advisor

Stan S. Thomas

Abstract

Advances in technology over the past fifty (50) years have changed virtually everything that touches our lives today to some degree. However, in the last five years or so, these innovations have been combined into products and systems which have visibly begun to change society as we have known it in the past.

Only in recent years, have the affects of technological change or innovation on society begun to be examined. While a fair amount of literature has been published to date on specific areas of technological change, few publications have been produced which provide a general overview of the subject. Probably the main reason for this is that change is occurring so fast that people cannot simply keep up with it.

Realizing this limitation, this thesis attempts to provide an overview of technological change, thru research of current pefiodicals, only as it is seen today - - in 1984. It is a sure bet that much of the research presented here will be outdated within the next year. For that reason alone, it is clear that the enormous impact that technological change is having and will continue to have on society warrants monitoring on a continuous basis. I trust then, that students of change will periodically revise and update the subject matter contained herein in the fifzure, as well as add new research (Little has been done to date!) and raise new questions about the affect of technological change on society.

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