Information Technology and Organizational Change in the British Census, 1801-1911.

Author List: Campbell-Kelly, Martin;
Information Systems Research, 1996, Volume 7, Issue 1, Page 22-36.
The first British census was taken in 1801 and was processed by a handful of clerks in a tiny office. By the mid-1800s, the census had evolved into an elaborate Victorian data-processing operation involving over a hundred clerks, each of whom had a specialized information- processing role. In 1911 the census was mechanized and the routine data processing was taken over by punched-card machines. This paper explores the changes in information technology within the census over a period of more than a century, and the resulting organizational changes. A contrast is drawn with the U.S. census-which mechanized in 1890-on the adoption of new technology.
Keywords: Census; Information Technology; Organizational Change; Organizational Memory; Punched-card Machinery; Tabulation
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#35 0.230 technology organizational information organizations organization new work perspective innovation processes used technological understanding technologies transformation consequences perspectives use administrative economic
#240 0.166 systems information management development presented function article discussed model personnel general organization described presents finally computer-based role examined functional components
#279 0.156 field work changes new years time change major period year end use past early century half traditional areas established strong
#170 0.140 information processing needs based lead make exchange situation examined ownership analytical improved situations changes informational examine developed receive perceptions facilitates
#155 0.133 technology research information individual context acceptance use technologies suggests need better personality factors new traits telemedicine adoption examined does management
#154 0.120 memory support organizations information organizational requirements different complex require development provides resources organization paper transactive depth process outside difficult breadth