Analysis of Skilled Work, Without the Worker by John Markkoff - Article Example

The chosen topic for discussion in this paper is en d Skilled Work, Without the Worker which was written by John Markkoff of New York Times dated August 18, 2012. It talked about robots are taking over the jobs of humans in our factories due to their efficiency and efficacy especially in precision work. It also discussed how this changing arrangement in the factories and warehouses are creating a new type of jobs. From the conflict theorist, however, this is not at all good because it will displace the jobs of humans by machines which are cheaper and easier to maintain.

This can be gleaned in the comparison in the Philips assembly line in Drachten where robots dominated the factory requiring only a few personnel while the same company also has a plant in China manned by thousands of employees doing the same thing. For the symbolic interactionist, however, there is a way that the two entity can exist in mutually beneficial interaction. It starts with a premise that human beings will not lose its place in our manufacturing plants and warehouses only that their interaction with work will evolve such as their transfer to jobs that require problem-solving and creativity which robots cannot do such as those jobs in design.