Core Activities and Values 11
the results from machines that implement algorithms, or provide data input and
other services so that the algorithm can be run on real world cases (Woods, 1986a
and b). The latter p erspective also generates m any realization-based stories about
work in the future—stories that p resume hypothesized benefits will follow (and
only those effects will occur) if only sufficient investment is made to advance the
technological baselin e on one or another dimension (Woods & Dekker, 2000).
These stories block out observation and analysis of how people will adapt to carry
out roles as r esponsible agen ts in order to ach ieve the goals o f prac tice.
The technology- or a lgorithm-center ed perspective finds human behavior very