António Moniz

Scenario-Building Methods as a Tool for Policy Analysis

A scenario is a policy analysis tool that describes a possible set of future conditions. The most useful scenarios (for corporations, for policy decision makers) are those that display the conditions of important variables over time. In this approach, the quantitative underpinning enriches the narrative evolution of conditions or evolution of the variables; narratives describe the important events and developments that shape the variables. In terms of innovative methods for policy analysis, the foresight and scenario building methods can be an interesting reference for social sciences. Some examples of these exercises will be present in this paper, either related to vision in science and technology developments, social and technological futures, or related to aggregated indicators on human development. Two cases (Japan and Germany) are held on behalf the ministries of science and education (respectively, MEXT and BMBF), and another with the support of United Nations.

Technological practices in the European auto industry: exploring cases from Belgium, Germany and Portugal

The relation between work organisation and technological practices in auto industry is analysed in this article. The concept of “technological practice” in this sector is used to describe the specific ways of embedding information and communication technology applications into the organizational forms and cultural patterns. This concept was developed with the Sowing project (TSER, DG XII) and that approach included either the shop floor co-operation up to the regionally based networks of companies and supporting institutions. The authors studied different sectors in the automotive firms of different European countries (Germany, Belgium and Portugal): shopfloor and production lines, design and management and the local inter-relationships. It was underlined some evidencies of the different alternatives in terms of technological practices for the same sector. Much of the litterature try to disseminate an idea of a single (and optimum) organisational model for the same type of product. And here, even with the same type of technology, and of product (medium-high range), one can find different models, different cultures, different ways of organising the industrial structure (firms, regional institutions, R&D centres) in the same sector (auto industry).

Issues on the anthropocentric production systems

This paper analises the problems and trends of the introduction of anthropocentric production systems (APS), specifically in small less industrialised member states of the European Union. The aim of this paper is to characterize APS and to present some special considerations related to the socioeconomic factors affecting the prospects and conditions for APS that is defined as a system based on the utilization of skilled human resources and flexible technology adapted to the needs of flexible and participative organisation. Among socioeconomic factors, some critical aspects for the development of APS will be focused, namely technological infrastructure, management strategies, perceived impact of introduction of automated systems on the division of labour and organisational structure, educational and vocational training and social actors strategies towards industrial automation. This analysis is based on a sample of industrial firms, built up for qualitative analysis, and on case studies analysis that can be reference examples for further development of APS, and not just for economic policy purposes alone.

Intuitive Interaction Between Humans and Robots in Work Functions at Industrial Environments: The Role of Social Robotics

The social dimension of worker–robot interaction in industry is becoming a decisive aspect of robotics development. Many problems and difficulties of robotics research are not only related to technical issues but are framed by social aspects. Human–robot interaction (HRI) as a specific research field of robotics tackles this issue of intuition. One of the aims is to identify relevant research questions about the possibility of the development of safer robot systems in closer human–machine intuitive interaction systems at the manufacturing shop floor level. This chapter will contribute to understanding the cognitive and perceptual workload for robot operators in complex working systems. The importance of robotics in work life is not only to decrease the physical strains in manufacturing, but also it can increase the need for situation awareness and risk assessment which implies higher perceptual workload and psychological strains.

Designing a Technology Assessment post-graduation programme: Experiences, limits and needs

The post-graduation in the field of Technology Assessment (TA) is recent and that are several and different ways to be organised. Most experiences are related with the Masters diplom level (2nd cycle of graduation in high education). Just one in PhD level is explicit in the field of TA, and some other PhD courses include also TA topics in their programme structure. In this chapter we will analyse the problems related with the design of a post-graduation (MA, MSc or PhD) programme in the field of TA using as reference some international experiences. Hereby, the main conclusion seems to address labour market needs in the specialised knowledge of TA, of technology management or technology innovation. In this sense TA should be included as “minor” into post-graduation courses which may range from engineering disciplines to social sciences. As a graduation programme it can fill an expertise gap between technicians,engineers, scientists and the strategic decision makers or policy makers.

Technology assessment approach to human-robot interactions in work environments

Due to (ongoing) technical processes with regard to applications of robotics one may analyse the organizational effects this technology has in two sectors: 1) Manufacturing: where industrial robotics has a long tradition and the human-machine interaction is organized basically by Tayloristic working structure (division of labour, changes of qualification and skills, speeding up processes, high economic efficiency). Through new innovative applications in robotics this sector is actually facing new challenges of this interaction with regard to new issues i.e. safety, complexity of work environment etc. 2) Health: the application of assistive robot systems in surgery operations is still very recent, but has already created specific pattern of working environment which show significant similarities to manufacturing. In both sectors the impact of robotics on the organizational working environment is widely unknown. This paper explores scientific knowledge about the impact of robotics on working environment in both sectors based on different methods of Technology Assessment.

Organisational Challenges of Human–Robot Interaction Systems in Industry: Human Resources Implications

In this paper, the social aspects related to new concepts on the complex work environments (CWE) will be analysed, especially those that configure the design of work organisation systems with automated equipment. In such environments, the work with autonomous systems (AS) represents specific options in the design of workplaces. This means that human resources management (HRM) is becoming more decisive for a successful design of a complex and automated system. Traditionally, it was thought that automation would replace operational work and the importance of the dimension of human resource would become less decisive for management option. Most recent studies are demonstrating total different conclusions. We intend to present here some of those results. Another topic covered by this article is the relation of humans with computers in their working environment. That means the role of agents in the human–computer interaction (HCI) (robots, human operators, other automated machinery, sensors) and the implications in the management of human resources. The technology development represents also a challenge for managerial options.

Technology Assessment in Japan and Europe

This work aims to describe the latest developments in European countries or regions that lack a structure to develop Parliamentary Technology Assessment activities (named non-PTA). They are countries or regions where parliamentary-oriented technology assessment activities have not yet resulted in a formal structure, but where these activities can be detected to some extent. We will concentrate on activities in Portugal, Wallonia, and other Central and Eastern countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Catalonia is mentioned as a specific case where a formal PTA structure exists but the way it is organized and financed is similar to the national and regional experiences at the non-PTA countries. We can conclude that TA institutionalization in non-PTA countries appears to be dependent on the level of public production of knowledge. In fact, the presence or absence of Science & Technology (ST in their absence, the promotion of innovation tries to keep up with globalization pressures and to generate economic growth, without significant demands for TA advice.This work aims to describe the latest developments in European countries or regions that lack a structure to develop Parliamentary Technology Assessment activities (named non-PTA). They are countries or regions where parliamentary-oriented technology assessment activities have not yet resulted in a formal structure, but where these activities can be detected to some extent. We will concentrate on activities in Portugal, Wallonia, and other Central and Eastern countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Catalonia is mentioned as a specific case where a formal PTA structure exists but the way it is organized and financed is similar to the national and regional experiences at the non-PTA countries. We can conclude that TA institutionalization in non-PTA countries appears to be dependent on the level of public production of knowledge. In fact, the presence or absence of Science & Technology (ST in their absence, the promotion of innovation tries to keep up with globalization pressures and to generate economic growth, without significant demands for TA advice.

Os trabalhadores do conhecimento num setor tradicional: o caso dos designers do vestuário

A reestruturacao do trabalho no setor da industria, resultante do desenvolvimento da “sociedade do conhecimento”, provocou importantes mudancas nas organizacoes e nos seus trabalhadores. Um dos principais setores que tem vindo a sofrer alteracoes bruscas nos ultimos anos e o da industria transformadora. O subsetor do vestuario foi dos primeiros a utilizar diferentes formas de flexibilidade com o objetivo de se manter competitivo. Este artigo analisa este processo de mudanca e os seus efeitos nas “profissoes do conhecimento” na industria, nomeadamente a sua aplicacao ao grupo profissional dos designers do vestuario. Para compreender o impacto da reestruturacao do trabalho no grupo estudado analisam-se as mudancas que ocorreram nas suas condicoes de trabalho, qualificacoes e competencias, uso do conhecimento, identidade profissional e trajetorias de carreira.

Implementation methodology of complex manufacturing environment in a brownfield site

This paper discusses a methodology for the implementation process of a flexible machining and assembly manufacturing system in an existing site (an existing industrial infrastructure), or brownfield site. The reference laboratory test site, a Flexible Manufacturing System FMS installed at the UNINOVA Institute, was used to validate the designed methodology. Studies based on real industrial environments were also considered, in order to incorporate added key influencing variables to the proposed methodology. The methodology points to the implementation of a technological system under a generalized participative approach. The involvement of managers, technicians and workers in the design and implementation making them feel that the changes are not marginal events in relation to their activities, is a key guideline discussed in the paper.