This title was first published in 2000. An in-depth analysis of skill, core and periphery in the context of the firm and its wider economic and product market, management strategies, technology and gender. The book provides a unique model through which to explain the perceptions of those involved in production in the context of a shift from the Fordist to the post-Fordist production paradigm.
Part analysis of contemporary change and part vision of the future, post-Fordism lends its name to a set of challenging, essential and controversial debates over the nature of capitalism's newest age. This book provides a superb introduction to these debates and their far-reaching implications, and includes key texts by post-Fordism's major theorists and commentators.
It is a widespread view that democracy and the advanced nation-state are in crisis, weakened by globalization and undermined by global capitalism, in turn explaining rising inequality and mounting populism. This book, written by two of the world's leading political economists, argues this view is wrong: advanced democracies are resilient, and their enduring historical relationship with capitalism has been mutually beneficial. For all the chaos and upheaval over the past century--major wars, economic crises, massive social change, and technological revolutions--Torben Iversen and David Soskice show how democratic states continuously reinvent their economies through massive public investment in research and education, by imposing competitive product markets and cooperation in the workplace, and by securing macroeconomic discipline as the preconditions for innovation and the promotion of the advanced sectors of the economy. Critically, this investment has generated vast numbers of well-paying jobs for the middle classes and their children, focusing the aims of aspirational families, and in turn providing electoral support for parties. Gains at the top have also been shared with the middle (though not the bottom) through a large welfare state. Contrary to the prevailing wisdom on globalization, advanced capitalism is neither footloose nor unconstrained: it thrives under democracy precisely because it cannot subvert it. Populism, inequality, and poverty are indeed great scourges of our time, but these are failures of democracy and must be solved by democracy.
Sociologists draw on recent developments in economic and organizational sociology to analyze exactly how work is changing as the economy moves into a post-industrial phase. Their topics include organizations, occupations, and the structuration of work; technical knowledge, rainmaking, and gender among finance executives; faculty responses to the transformation of knowledge and its uses in the life sciences; the social construction of overtime; relations in production at a cooperative workplace in Mexico; negotiating strategies and consequences of reduced-hours careers in medicine; and the flexibilization of labor in the Australian hotel industry. There is no index. c. Book News Inc.
The paradigm of mass production has given way to radically new forms of organizing industrial production based primarily on the need to foster continuous redesign of products and processes in the face of intensified competition. This change, which is designed to engender continuous adaptive learning in production systems, requires considerable organizational flexibility. The mass production systems constructed in the early post-war period foundered in the face of new forms of competition which put a premium on learning and flexibility.
"A highly readable and approachable account of the sociology of work... a first-rate introductory text that is sure to become essential reading for students, teachers, and researchers." - Jason Hughes, Brunel University "An excellent text. Its comparative and historical sweep is particularly welcome and the analysis provided is thoughtful and well grounded." - John Eldridge, University of Glasgow "An invaluable and up-to-date text for students and researchers. Detailed and wide-ranging in its scope it is an excellent source of materials combined with a thought provoking and challenging set of arguments." - Huw Beynon, Cardiff University Stephen Edgell′s book charts the rise of ′work′ and explores all aspects of work including paid and unpaid, standard and non-standard and unemployment. New material has been incorporated covering the theories and practices of globalization, interactive service work, economic crisis, technological and organizational change, and trade unions. Drawing on classic and contemporary theorists, the book: Covers key issues regarding paid industrial and service sector work: alienation, skill, post-industrial society, network enterprises, flexibility, Fordism, neo-Fordism, post-Fordism, McDonaldization, emotional labour, destandardization and the social impact of unemployment. Discusses key issues regarding non-paid work: domestic work as ′work′, the impact of technology, symmetrical family thesis, the impact of feminism, and globalization. Provides student friendly pedagogy: suggestions for further reading, questions for discussion and assessment, an extensive glossary and links to key websites and downloadable articles. This latest edition will be welcomed by lecturers and students wanting an authoritative guide to the sociology of work.
There is no doubt that significant socio-economic changes have occurred over the last twenty years in the UK and other advanced capitalist societies. Consequently, Fordism, a bureaucratic, hierarchical model of industrial development has matured into Post-Fordism, with its greater emphasis on the individual, freedom of choice and flexibility, generating fresh debate and analysis. Towards a Post-Fordist Welfare State represents leading authors from a number of disciplines - social policy, sociology, politics and geography - who have played a key role in promoting and criticising Post-Fordist theorising and presents a thorough examination of the implications of applying Post-Fordism to contemporary restructuring of the British welfare state. The work will appeal to a wide-ranging readership providing the first social policy text on Post-Fordism. It will be key reading for undergraduates, postgraduates and lecturers in social policy and administration, sociology, politics and public sector economics
Critical and accessible, the new edition of this bestselling textbook offers valuable insight into contemporary management practices and encourages readers to reflect on the realities of the workplace. Work and Organizational Behaviour takes a unique and well-rounded approach, exploring key theories and topics through the lenses of sociology, psychology, ethics and sustainability. Firmly embedded in the latest research and the wider geopolitical environment, this new edition places OB in the context of climate change, the rise of unstable working conditions and the impact of new technologies. A strong suite of pedagogy supports student learning, demonstrating key theories in action and preparing readers for the real world of work. Cases and features illustrate contemporary organizational practices and their impact across the world, in a range of industries. With streamlined content, an improved structure, and an enhanced focus on leadership, Work and Organizational Behaviour is an essential companion for OB modules at undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA levels. New to this Edition: - New chapters on 'Work and the gig economy' and 'Human resource management' - New decision making scenarios helping readers to develop practical leadership skills - 200+ new references to recent academic literature - Inclusion of important contemporary topics, including Covid-19 and the gig economy - Coverage of new technologies, including the impact of AI, robots, remote working and big data - Increased coverage of corporate social responsibility and ethics - New end of chapter cases, Reality of Work features and Globalization and Organization Behaviour features Accompanying online resources for this title can be found at bloomsburyonlineresources.com/work-and-organizational-behaviour-4e. These resources are designed to support teaching and learning when using this textbook and are available at no extra cost.
This title was first published in 2001. Addressing a significant gap in existing literature, this book presents a gender-informed analysis of the post-fordist economy. It incorporates a gender dimension into the economic restructuring debate on both a theoretical and a practical level, and explores the implications of economic restructuring in the workplace for gender relations..
