Introduction
According to the case study, technology has become vital in job specialization and specification. Computers play a major role in altering demand for educated people. The adoption of computers has changed the performance of workers and thus their respective jobs. As a result, computerization alters the demand for job skills demand. This paper provides a further insight based on a collective approach by computer scientist, economists and theorists. It expounds on the tasks computers are designed to do and how such tasks have influenced or affected human skills in their work places.
Arguing from the case study view, computer performs cognitive and manual tasks thus a substitute for human beings while on the other hand, it complements workers in performing problem solving and complex tasks which are non-routine. Based on the data on task input between the years 1960 to 1998, we can realize that some of these tasks are not the perfect substitute for human beings. The economic model suggest that, computerization leads to reduced labor input of manual and cognitive tasks which are routine in nature and increased labor input of non-cognitive tasks. The following is a production framework that further supports the relationship between task demand in the industry and occupation level.
It is based on the fact that there are many different tasks that can be performed by computers but only some need to be performed. A task is a routine that machine can perform it when programmed. A routine is repetitive hence a well programmed machine can successfully carry out such tasks. Previous generations of computers required the input of human beings for routine tasks. It increased the demand for clerks and information-processing tasks and thus the cost of production. However, even the rapid advancement in technology proves that not all tasks can be automated. Computers cannot execute tasks which needs cognition for instance flexibility, creativity, problem solving and other non-routine cognitive tasks. Interaction of computer capital and human labor leads to greater intensity of routine inputs. In turn this increases the marginal productivity of non-routine inputs. Moreover, this model depicts that routines and non-routine tasks are not the perfect substitute.
In summary, the task model indicates the effect of computerization on routine tasks, non-routine tasks, analytical and interactive and manual tasks. For instance, routine and analytical/interactive tasks comprise such tasks as record keeping, calculation and repetitive customer services. The result of computer impact is substitution of human labor. On the other hand, non-routine and analytic/interactive tasks include activities such as persuading, management, legal writing and medical diagnosis. The impact of computerization is complementing computers with human labor. Other activities such as routine and manual tasks are subject to substitution since they are costly and labor intensive if they are not automated. Whereas, non-routine but manual tasks for instance truck driving can either require complements or complete substitution.
Conclusion
According to the tested hypothesis from the case study, computer technology reduces labor inputs of tasks that are routine and manual while increasing labor inputs of non-routine cognitive tasks. On another note, better educated people have a comparative advantage when comparing non routine and routine tasks. It is evident that education level in computerized industries has been increasing over the last two decades.
