Dissertation Information for Mark Shifflet NAME: - Mark Shifflet
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Rutgers University (USA) (1995)
ADVISORS: - Jorge Schement
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Milton Mueller - Michele Dillon - Getinet Belay
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: A comparative analysis of the information work force in a market economy and a centrally planned economy as represented by Finland and Poland
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the concept of the information society in order to identify factors that have lead to the emergence of information activities in the global labor force. An analysis of the predominant theoretical perspectives on the development of the information society shows that in order to distinguish the impact of the main factors a comparison of the development of the information work force in countries which have experienced industrialization under different socioeconomic systems is needed. Through a set of criteria that attempts to match similar experiences in industrializing, Finland and Poland are selected as the representatives of a market economy and a centrally-planned economy.
Based on the OECD international classification system for information workers, information activities were grouped into three categories: information producers, information processors and information activities support. Data involving the structure of the work force by industrial sector, by gender and various information infrastructure indicators was also investigated in order to determine the degree to which Finland and Poland provided support for the flow of information through each country.
The results indicate that the information work forces of Finland and Poland have experienced similar patterns of growth over the period of time examined. However, the distribution of the work force across different economic sectors and information activities does differ across the different socioeconomic systems. The examination of the categories of information activities and infrastructure indicators show that political factors also influence the structure and development of the information work force. It is concluded that factors relating to industrialization, not technological innovation, have played the primary role in the emergence of the information work force and that this emergence may take multiple paths in developing. Because of these different structures, it is suggested that in the case of Poland and other countries which are transforming to market economies, the transition from a centrally-planned information work force to a market-oriented information work force will be as difficult as the transition from an industrial-based economy to one that is information based.
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MPACT Scores for Mark Shifflet A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:10:21
Advisors and Advisees Graph
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