“Spect-Action” technical control and organizational action

Abstract

This paper discusses the relationship between people and IT-machines in the light of an empirical investigation pursued among pilots faced with flying automation. It advances the idea that this confrontation gives rise to a new mode of action which requires the setting of the human agent in a position of “spectator” whose action becomes impossible to separate from this position. This idea is reflected in the notion of spect-action which is then examined in terms of its impact upon the human agent relation to the real and to knowledge.