Repair and Maintenance

In “Stewards of the Organization,” I analyze how the move from paper to computer in repair work transformed both the practice and perception of repair work. Based on observations of supervisors in repair and maintenance at a major research university (2017-2019), I show how data-driven repair and maintenance prioritizes the constant sorting and boundary work between repair teams. iPads, desktop computers, and cellular phones feature as working tools – they are used by workers to document, communicate about, and keep track of assignments; they also alter how work is allocated, prioritized, and evaluated. I also show where practice defies data-driven classification schemas and how team supervisors subvert organizational policies to solve internal organizational tensions.