revision package 2012

7/30/2019 Revision Package 2012

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INDUSTRIAL SOCIOLOGY

REVISION GUIDE SEM II 2011/12

t 1

olution ofiety

haracteristics/

ures ofeties

mergence of

ologyrpose &

ectives)

dustrial

iology -

ectives

Unit 2:

Assessing theusefulness

*5 Perspectives:

-Micro:1.Managerial

Psychologistic

2. Interactionist

Macro:3. Durkheim-

Systems4. Marxian

Combination:5. Weber-Social

Action

Unit 3: theories

1. HRM

2. Orientation to

Work

3. Organizational

Sociology

4. Plant

Sociology

5. Marxist

Labour Process

Theory

Unit 4:

**Worker

Collectivism one

manifestationbeing trade

unions

**

Mobilization

Theory

(components)

Unit 5:

Post-IndustrialSociety

*Has society

evolved yetagain?

*Comparison ofIndustrial and

Post-Industrial

Society

*Work of Bell,

Drucker &

Toffler

*Kumar and

Smart

Unit 6

Is the Caribbean

an Industrialregion?

If no, why not?

*Arthur Lewis

*Importance of

technology

*Discussion on

Perez, Girvan,

Pantin and

Nurse.

Unit 7

* Sexual

Division ofLabour

*Manifestation

of Gender bias

- to whatextent?

*Is the

Caribbeanunique?

Unit 8 & 9

*Impact of

technologyon:

-Labour

market &

relations-Work

organization

and

production

*Effect of

technology:control of

worker or aid

to worker?

Control o worker Braverman or Aid to Worker Blauner

Have the new technolo ies a ected the relevance and use ulness o trade unions?

Compare & Contrast Industrial and Post-Industrial Features

Are these eatures evident in the Caribbean re ion?


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UNIT 1:

Some features of the Industrial Society:

Industrial Society:

Pre-eminence of rationality

Science and objectivity Emergence of factories

Mechanization

Division of labour

Bureaucracy

Specialization of tasks

Social Stratification

Sophisticated technology (driven by energy)

Surplus production (for profit)

Individualistic orientation

Some historical/societal factors:

Population Growth

Enclosure Movement

Enlightenment and the influence of rationality

Reformation

Protestant Ethic

French Revolution

Industrial Revolution

Sociological Issues:

Removal of mysticism (demystification) Disenchantment Webers discussion of the iron cage

Emergence of new bourgeoisie class

Urbanization (movement from land to factories)

Poverty

Change in production process

Erosion of collective orientation

Emergence of Sociology as a discipline: need to understand how these changes helped in the

emergence of not only Industrial Society but sociology as an academic discipline.

Sociology:

Study of relationships

Rationale is to help people reach a better understanding of human predicament

Systematic process

Role is to describe, explain and predict


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Industrial Sociology emerged as a sub-discipline: study of work and how changes have affected

the worker and management relations. (Refer to Lecture notes and slides for more discussion on

the objectives).

UNIT 2

Five Perspectives: Based on the transformations that society underwent various social scientistsarose in an attempt to explain what was taking place. These diverse perspectives in industrial

sociology reflect the fact that sociologists in the study of work chose to focus on different aspects

of work and industrial life. You can refer to Watson for a good discussion of these perspectivesincluding their strengths and weaknesses.

Managerial Psychologistic (micro analysis)Explains human behaviour in terms of internal attributes to the individual

Scientific Management Self-Actualization

(Features and theorist- Taylor) (Features and theorists)

Critique

Durkheim-Systems (consensus thesis)-(macro analysis):provides the theoretical framework forthe work of the Human Relations School. Critical to this perspective is the identification of social

relationships as being the primary determinant of human behaviour. The determining factor was

the social system either that of the workplace or the wider society. The individual is thereforeanalyzed as part of that system.

Interactionist-(micro analysis): is individualistic in orientation and explanation in that it ignoresor does not acknowledge the existence of an entity called society that is separate from the

individual. It emphasizes how individuals construct social reality.

Weber-social action-(micro and macro analysis): is concerned with relating meaning at theindividual level to the wider historical and cultural patterns at the macro level. Individuals are

influenced at the wider societal level by their sense of a legitimate order.

Marxian (macro analysis): represents an analysis of the political, social and economic order.

Marxian theoretical framework believes that work generally is supposed to be a self-fulfilling,

purposive activity. However, under the capitalist system this has been distorted. He speaks of

two classes in society which is reflected in the workplace bourgeoisie (own the means ofproduction) and the proletariat (sell their labour power). Because of the unequal power relations

between the two Marx states that there will always be conflict in the workplace. Also because ofthe arrangement of the productive process there will be exploitation of workers to benefit from

surplus value, alienation and irreconcilable conflict.

You must be able to list and explain the main features of these perspectives along with the

criticism levied against it. This will help in an evaluation of which will be most useful in


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understanding the workplace (or situations in the workplace). Remember in determining

which is best, think about:

1. Type of industry (e.g. manufacturing or service oriented?)

2. Type of relationship is it between workers and management or among workers?

UNIT 3

Sociology of Work: the origins of the sociology of work lie in the attempts of the classical

theorists to come to terms with the nature of industrialization (Thompson, 1986)

This topic area also looks at differing theoretical interpretations of technology (Blauner and

Braverman) and its influence/impact on the worker. This area is relevant to further the

discussion in Unit 8.

Non-Marxist Marxist

**Human Relations School **Labour Process Theory**Hawthorn Effect (main elements)

**Informal Organization Looks at:

*Effect of technology

(Bravermans thesis)

Plant Sociology (Blauner) Organizational Soc. Orientation to work

Focus is on internal factors focus is on external factors

Inverted U curve (relationship between technology and degrees of alienation).

Workplace is the universe containing all the variablesaccounting for worker behaviour

Criticisms

Social System

Technical Human Organization

UNIT 4

Mobilization Theory:Mobilization theory directs our attention to the social relations of the workplace and the

processes by which employees perceive and respond to injustice and assert their rights. Out of

these interactions emerges the desire for unionism, a particular form of collective

representation.


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How and under what conditions do individuals organize collectively to pursue

their grievances or interests?

How and under what conditions will individuals take collective or cooperative

actions towards the attainment of common goals?

Worker Collectivism

19th

century worker 20th

century worker

Conditions

Kelly (drawing on the work of Tilly)

Moblilzation Theory (importance of injustice) Long Wave

1. Organization2. Mobilization

Upswing Downswing

3. Opportunity (counter-mobilization) (25 years-boom) (25 years-bust)4. Collective Action

5. Interests (most important)

***Attribution

***Social Identification

***Leadership

Issues that influence interests:

How do workers move from individual semi-collectivecollective interests?

Strength of grievance (what is managements position)

How do people acquire a sense of injustice?

You should be in a position to discuss each component (applicability is important here).

UNIT 5

Post-Industrial Society: this area will be useful in developing any discussions on Unit 8 &9

with respect to the impact of technology on the nature of work and industrial production. You

should therefore be in a position to explain the main elements of the three strands below.


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Drucker; Toffler; Bell

STRANDS

Information Society Post-Fordism Post-Modernism

Critique

Kumar & Smart

Discontinuity or Continuity

Why not concentrate on the differences?

Are the features of post-industrial different from industrial?

New Form of life/drastic change?

You should be in a position to present your position on whether or not you think we have

moved into yet another type of society (examples and or cases are always useful in enhancing

your discussion)

UNIT 6

Industrialization of the Caribbean

Just as I mentioned in Unit 1 the importance of understanding the role of technology in the

transformation of society from pre-industrial to industrial you also need to link this to the

Caribbeans position in the industrialization process and therefore the possible reasons we are

still in the position we are today. What are some of the obstacles and how can they be

overcome?

Arthur Lewis

ProfitsSavings Capital Accumulation Economic Development

Dual Economy Industrialization by Invitation

Inviting MNCs

Agri Industrial Potential Benefits:

**Capital

Complementary relationship **Knowledge/Expertise**Technology

Reasons for failure:

Identify the criticisms of the model (we discussed this in class)

Is the model outdated?

What role do institutional factors play?

Is the problem with the model or the application of it?


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What about Perezs discussion of our socio-institutional framework?

Is technology given a central place in the drive towards industrialization in the Caribbean?

As a Caribbean region we have relied extensively on acquiring technology by invitingmultinational corporations (enclave type operations with little/no local value-added or

technological multiplier effect). You can refer to the work of Keith Nurse and his focus on the

Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Our strategy has always been to market ourselves as lowskilled. This, according to Pantin (1994) ensures that we are locked in a global industrial process

(globalization) at the very bottom of the structure as our governments do not place much

emphasis on development of indigenous technologies and scientific discoveries (remember the

term rentier mentality).

The majority of regional manufacturers and service providers use technology that is below

international best standards. Given the crucial role of technology in transforming the productionprocess and driving productivity and competitiveness, it is not surprising that these firms are

unable to compete in the domestic and international markets. Firms are therefore unwilling to

incur the costs of securing such technology on their own. Again, government intervention is

necessary to assist in technological upgrading. This is especially vital for small, relatively labourintensive firms that could help to alleviate the unemployment problem in the region.

UNIT 7

Sexual Division of Labour (definition)

Europe Caribbean

Link between patriarchy and agrarianism Patriarchy weakly institutionalized?

(refer to lecture slides) Why?

Peculiar History (discussed in tutorial and lecture)

Suffer disadvantages in labour market Do not suffer disadvantages

**Biological differences are still held **Weakly institutionalized**Patriarchy (inherited from Europeans)

**Labour statistics **Economic factors (industrialization and

migration by men)

**Labour Statistics


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Role of main socializing agents in reinforcing orundermining Sexual Division ofLabour:

Family

Religion

Education

Also consider the influence of the Media

When doing an assessment of the extent of sexual division of labour remember to look at:

Type of industry

Sector of the economy (formal or informal?)

The type of job/position held

Income (equal or unequal?)

Prestige attached to position (diminishes, remains the same or increases when a womanassumes the position?)

Is the 21st

century woman in a better position now?

UNIT 8

Industrial Work

Organization & Control

Influence of technology

Flexible Taylorism & Bravermans Thesis Anti-Essentialist thesis

Post Fordism Deskilling Thesis

(Expanding on the work ofMarxs Labour Process Theory)

Post-modern approach

Social Constructivism

**What technology does is

determined by the way in which

those involved with its usageinterpret it.

**Technology is what those who use

it believe it to be.


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UNIT 9

Technological Revolution

(High Volume to High Value/Quality)

What are these new technologies?

Impact on

Nature of Work Industrial Production

(Global marketplace)Globalization of productive process

Labour Market Labour Relations

**New Employment strategies **Role of trade unions

--status of workers **Job security--type of workers **Autonomy for technical staff **Global market demands **Less face-to-face interaction (due to use of

**Deskilling/enskilling? Internet and intranet)

Recentralization or Decentralization?

Impact on Caribbean

This last unit deals extensively with the influence of technology on industrial work organization

and control and also how it has impacted on the industrial production process. Remember that

the new technologies have an integrative function thereby transforming our analysis and

understanding to a GLOBAL level.

Effect on Industrial work organization and control: Nature of work and workplace relations.

This takes us back a bit to what was learnt under Unit 5 (post-industrial society) where as a result

of the introduction of new technologies (information technology or computer-aided technology)

the production process has become more flexible (Post-Fordism). This has certain implications

for the way in which work is organized.

As seen in the diagram above the following issues must be considered (discussed in lecture slidesas well).

Labour market: type of worker being demanded. First group comprise of highly skilledworkers that enjoy job security; second group that are less skilled in comparison to the

first but also enjoys full-time employment and job security; third group made up ofcontract and part-time workers who have no job security.


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Employment strategies being employed now: more flexible where management can takeon and dispense with labour as the need arises (as a result of increase in supply of labour

Global workforce

Organizational structure: flatter hierarchical structures as a result of horizontalcollaboration between workers and their supervisors. Introduction of the enterprise web.

This is more evident in what Reich spoke about in the importance of problem solvers and

problem identifiers in this high value environment (similar to Bells technicians).Decisions are to be made quickly so workers (highly skilled ones) are given greater

autonomy.

Management of assets: As a result of the high value industry there has been a move awayfrom acquisition of property and office equipment to now renting/leasing as the needarises. There has also been a move away from possession of large stocks in warehouses

to little inventory (just-in time system/japanization).

Workplace relations: due to the more towards more contract/part-time workers and the

subsequent erosion of job security what implications do these now have for the role oftrade unions (particularly in the Caribbean context). Going back to Mobilization theory

this can be seen as one of managements counter-mobilization strategies. Also the issue

of recentralization and decentralization arises, i.e. management regaining greater controlor workers given greater independence. Post-Fordists would say that the collaboration

that exists makes the workplace environment more humane. However, note that even

though these problem solvers enjoy some degree of independence their work is managed

or controlled by the centre strategic broker in the new enterprise web. Also newmonitoring tools are being implemented (e.g. log sheets, status reporting proceudres to

distinguish slow from fast workers). Another point is that with the prevalent usage of

internet and intranet in the organization over time this erodes face-to-face interactionamong workers and between management and workers as workers can choose to work

from home (blurring of boundaries between work and home) and can now communicate

with others via these technologies.

Effect on Industrial Production (Post-Fordism)

Production is now market driven. This can now occur due to the adoption of computer

aided automation. This allows the production process to be more flexible flexiblespecialization. There has been a move away from high volume production (mass

production/standardization) to high value (service-oriented/customization).

Globalization of the production process as organizations are now subcontracting and/oroutsourcing part of their production activities while concentrating on their corecompetencies. You now have various parts of production located in disparate parts of the

world. The Caribbean has benefited from this to a limited extent.

Global marketplace now means that distribution of products is now widespreadinternationally. As such, e-business (B2B) and e-commerce (B2C such as e-banking,purchasing goods on the internet or over the telephone Amazon, eBay and eZshop) are

becoming more and more en vogue (particularly in the Caribbean). However, as a result

there is an elimination of intermediaries (implications for Caribbean businesses).


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Some exam room tips:

Identify the topic to be addressed.

Underline the key phrases, words or concepts What is the question asking?

Try as far as possible to jot down all that you know on your question paper before attempting

questions as the tendency is that the information escapes you later. This also helps to give

your answer a sequential flow (yes I am aware you have to do three questions in two hoursbut this planning pays off in the end)

Dont look around the room as you may become distracted by those who chose to just start

without proper planning. Dont worry they tend to stall early) If running out of time jot down the remaining points

Take a breath and settle yourself!!!!

It was a pleasure working with you all. All the best in your exams

revision package 2012

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