This reader contains contributions referring to one of the most urgent problems in systems design: the effects of computerization on human work and approaches to ameliorate systems design in order to create better conditions for living human work in a computerized world. Of course the choice of papers has been operated somewhat arbitrarily. It primarily reflects the work of IFIP's Working Group 9.1. "Compu ters and Work" and of some of its members. The papers were compiled aiming at focussing on very material pro blems in the field of "Computers and Work". They substantively re flect in several points the discussions and the concern of the Wor king Group. Some conclusions from a series of workshops held from 1980 onward by the Working Group are likewise contained and directed to the IFIP community and to other parties concerned. The reader inserts itself into a rather extended line of activities of the Working Group: in addition to contributions to the two IFIP Working Conferences on Human Choice and Computers held in 1974 and in 1979 (proceedings published by North Holland) a recent IFIP Wor king Conference on Systems Design For, With and By the Users (held in September 82, proceedings published in March 83 by North Holland) and a joint TC3/TC9 Working Conference on Education for Systems De signer/User Co-operation (proceedings to be published by end 84).

Inhalt
Section I.- Information Technology and Work in the Present Society.- ComputersA Gift of Fire.- Information Technologies and Social Power.- The Impact of Information Processing on the Working Class.- Section II.- The Major Specific Impacts of Computerization on Work.- Computerization and Employment.- Information Technology and Skills: Problems in Research and Politics.- Computerized Information Systems in Personnel.- Section III.- Some Prerequisites for Systems Design in the Interest of the Workers.- Individual and Social Implications of Data Processing and Office Automation in Service Industries.- Participation in Technical Change.- Computerization and Education.- Section IV.- Approaches in System Design for a Defense of Human Work.- Organizational Consequences of the Use of EDPHow to Design Information Technology.- Humanizing Computerized Information Systems.- Conclusions.- IFIP TC 9Working Group 1 Computers and Work Conclusions and Recommendations from the Workshop on the Effects of Computerization on Employment.- IFIP TC 9Working Group 1 Computers and Work Conclusions and Recommendations from the Workshop on the Effects of Computerization on Professional Skills.- Sources and Acknowledgements.