High-tech, high-touch: reconstructing the human element in high-tech companies

The said purpose of the new technologies of information and communication is to diffuse knowledge. Many analysts-Vastel (1999), Saramago (1999) and Barber (1999) foremost-are wondering, however, if these technologies haven't finally surpassed their optimum state and if this new "all NTIC" ideology won't now become a source of oppression for men and women (Ramonet, 1999). In order to counterbalance this oppression, people are developing a resistance with the aim of "reconstructing the human element" (Roche, 1997 and Sadowsky, 1999). Rather than attempting to suppress this resistance, the modern manager-who understands that it helps individuals to feel better and thus work better-must learn to be a humanist and under certain conditions, encourage some of these developments so as to be able to use them.