The impact of technology on work in the twenty-first century: exploring the smart and dark side

Abstract

The twenty-first century has seen significant expansion in the use and availability of technology, which has created a paradigm shift in how we can work. The papers in this special issue explore different facets of the smart and dark side of technology and how new waves of technology also lead to significant changes in the way we work. The tensions between ‘smart and dark’ are examined in relation to the use of formal telework practices, connection between IT systems and work-life balance, social media’s potential to fundamentally change the nature and boundaries of voice in the workplace, attitudes towards workplace surveillance, and finally a critical research agenda between the interface of IT and HRM is proposed.