Automation, digitalisation and technological autonomy in the periphery: A case study in the automotive complex of Argentina

Abstract

In this chapter, we address the issue of technological autonomy in a peripheral industrial subsidiary, through a holistic workplace-level case study at a plant within the automotive complex of Argentina. We ask whether technological change in the subsidiary is autonomous concerning the most relevant automation and digitalisation technolo-gies introduced in the production process, and which non-technological factors influence the degree of technological autonomy achieved by the plant. Over the course of a year, we conducted site tours and observations at the shop floor, semi-structured interviews with company executives, workers, union representatives, and public officials, along with the collection of quantitative and qualitative in-formation from various secondary sources. Our main findings indicate that a hypothesis of non-technological dependence tends to prevail: the ability of the local plant to control and adapt the integration of technology into its internal organizational environment depends on in-trinsic characteristics of its productive trajectory and organizational culture. These features are, in turn, strongly influenced by institution-al and economic factors of the local context beyond the global tech-nological strategies of the parent company. Although the results are specific to a single case study, its implications might also be relevant in other settings.