Book Description
In the United States work underlies our very concept of who we are. Changes in society and technology have influenced how and where we work, and transformations within the workplace in turn have altered our society.
A Nation at Work addresses the fundamental economic, demographic, policy, and business facts about how the workforce and workplace are changing in the early twenty-first century. Illustrated with over thirty-five graphs, Part I covers essential topics about the American workforce and workers. Part II gathers essays and speeches from the nation's outstanding journalists and workplace analysts. The book incorporates facts and data, including invaluable tables and listings for useful Internet sites, books, and organizations. Comprehensive in scope, A Nation at Work will help readers reach a better understanding about their own work and the world of work around them.
Book Description
Values at Work is an analysis of organizational dynamics with wide- ranging implications in an age of market globalization. It looks at the challenges businesses face to maintain people-oriented work systems while remaining successful in the larger economy. George Cheney revisits the famous Mondragón worker-owned-and-governed cooperatives in the Basque Country of Spain to examine how that collection of innovative and democratic businesses is responding to the broad trend of "marketization."
The Mondragón cooperatives are changing in important ways as a direct result of both external pressures to be more competitive and the rise of consumerism, as well as through the modification of internal policies toward greater efficiency. One of the most remarkable aspects of the changes is that some of the same business slogans now heard around the globe are being adopted in this set of organizations renowned for its strongly held internal values, such as participatory democracy, solidarity, and equality. Instead of emphasizing the special or unique qualities of the Mondragón experience, this book demonstrates the case's relevance to trends in all sectors and across the industrialized world.
Customer Reviews:
Values at Work?.......2000-06-17
With Values at Work George Cheney has made a timely and significant incursion into a number debates, including the nature of empowerment, the current infatuation with teamwork, and the social and economic effects of globalization. This is no mean feat as the subject matter of the book, ostensibly at least, addresses a limited area of specialized interest: the recent activities of the Spanish Basque region's Mondragón cooperative network. Using Mondragón as his focus, however, Cheney skilfully and persuasively comments on many issues that face us all in the early twenty first century, whether we be students of organizations or employees subject to the effects of "downsizing," teamwork, or corporate mission statements. In doing this he also neatly interweaves other secondary material from the US, New Zealand, and other parts of Europe.
Of course, in the past there has been a great deal of interest shown in cooperatives in general and in Mondragón in particular, most famously the pioneering urban ethnographer and sociologist William Foote Whyte's long-term study (Whyte and Whyte 1991). For many the heyday of cooperatives in Western capitalist economies where the 1960s and 1970s when they became identified with radical politics and workers' control movements. As studies of that period have shown (for example, Landry 1985), many of these experiments in workers' control descended into financial unviability and self-exploitation. Cheney shows us that this "degeneration thesis" was recognised by the Fabian Socialists Sidney and Beatrice Webb as early as the 1890s but he also notes that degeneration is not the inevitable destiny of all cooperatives. Indeed, the continued viability of Mondragón is testimony to this. In fact, it is Mondragón's very longevity that makes it so interesting because it is a cooperative that has lasted long enough not only to find itself emeshed in an increasingly globalized economy but also to live through the recent explosion of interest in "participation," "commitment," and the creation of corporate "values." This observation actually makes it doubly interesting because participation, commitment and a strong value system are the very features that have always sustained Mondragón's constituent firms. The basic question Cheney wishes to address is: How have these features been transformed in the face of recent social, economic, and managerial developments?
Not unexpectedly, the straightforward nature of Cheney's basic question belies a much more complex range of contextual and explanatory issues. In this respect it is much to Cheney's credit that he has done such a good job of organizing his response to the question in a clear and comprehensible manner. As a writer Cheney is an adept stylist who works through what is sometimes difficult and diverse source material in a way that renders it intelligible to the uninitiated without ever selling it (or the reader) short. No doubt, his background in communication studies has been something of an asset here, both practically and conceptually, and he brings to the field of management and organization studies a refreshing breadth of knowledge and experience.
The main device that Cheney deploys to make sense of Mondragón's recent experiences is to separate matters into sets of internal and external pressures. Thus, external pressures relate, among other things, to the rise of consumerism and need to compete in globalized markets whilst internal pressures now include the search for greater productive efficiency through contemporary management techniques such as total quality management and teamwork. One of Cheney's key arguments is that internal pressures, formerly characterised by collectivity and democracy, have yielded to external competitive pressures and, in the process, been transformed in some way. This framework is posed against a backdrop where "values at work" (a nice double-message) are taken to have important material and ideational effects. As Cheney succinctly puts it, "When we say that someone practices what he preaches, we don't really mean that the preaching itself isn't a type of practice" (p.25).
Cheney's theoretical interests squarely lie within what the sociologist Poitr Sztompka calls the "culturalist turn" of social science where the study of axiological, normative, and cognitive matters is prioritized. In Chapter 1 Cheney provides a useful summary of previous relevant studies of values at work for readers unfamiliar with this approach as it pertains to organizations. The first problem he addresses is how to attribute "values" to an organization without committing an act of anthropomorphization. His response is to argue for (and undertake) an ethnography that examines how values are produced and reproduced, not by faceless and monolithic organizations, but by the very people who make them what they are. Take one of Mondragón's foundational ideals, that of "participation." According to Cheney we can only understand what this means in an organization if we study, "... who's in the 'loop', what people in meetings are saying, how much they're saying, how they're saying it, who's talking and who's not, what's not being said, what options are not being considered, and so on." (p.25). Although Cheney's focus is primarily culturalist in Sztompka's terms, the chapter closes by outlining the ways in which the internal and external pressures facing Mondragón intersect along social and economic dimensions in three main ways: (1) the "rational" market that is frequently used to legitimate value systems is not quite so rational as many suppose; (2) some organizations, especially cooperatives, have internal limits to growth that are not necessarily explicable using economic principles; and, (3) those very economic principles are ultimately mere stories themselves, a socially constructed discourse that is based on nothing more concrete than "values" like trust, obligation, and the sanctity of contracts.
Chapter 2 provides the main historical and contextual discussion of the book. Cheney presents the reader with an outline of what is a fascinating and salutary story of an alternative approach to successful business. Perhaps most interesting are the local cultural, social, and political factors operating in the Basque region after World War Two. Unlike many cooperative movements in other countries, Mondragón had no direct link with the organized labor movement. This is because, under General Franco's particular brand of Fascism, free and independent labor unions were effectively banned until his death in 1975 when Spain began to emerge as a modern European democracy. In the case of Mondragón this vacuum was filled by the members of the Catholic Church. Add to this particular context the politics of Basque separatism and what you have, as Cheney points out, is a situation where values at work are closely aligned with a broader system of strong cultural values. Indeed, he attributes the longevity of Mondragón to a sense of solidarity that had dual roots in regional opposition to Franco and the "liberation theology" of certain sections of the Church. The issue that Mondragón now faces, however, is how to sustain a strong value system given that Spain has become a modern secular state operating in an increasingly globalized economy. In Chapter 3 (with assistance from Yudit Buitrago) Cheney takes individual sets of values at Mondragón and looks at how they have been transformed. Thus he examines how internationalization has created pressures for growth and increased competitiveness. He then goes on to look at how Mondragón's sense of solidarity has been affected (especially as it relates to matter of equality and autonomy) before going on explore the impact that management practices like TQM and HRM have had. Finally, he assesses the changing meaning of participation at Mondragón. In the light of these developments, according to Cheney, the important question Mondragón now faces "... is not Can they keep their core social values intact? but Do they want to?" (p.112). I think that this question is worth asking about all organizations that espouse strong value systems.
Cheney concludes his book by seeking out the practical lessons of Mondragón's recent experiences. Although he concedes that Mondragón's context is singular he also points to some more general implications for other organizations in other settings. For my money one of the most interesting is the emergence of a dual loyalty system that has accompanied the introduction of team-based working at Mondragón. Here we see a situation where the values developed by teams (cf. Barker 1999) could potentially reinforce or undermine broader value systems of the organization. It is Cheney's ability to draw out these issues and make them relevant to a wider audience that makes his book so valuable. Ultimately, it also a hopeful book: Cheney shows us that things like participation and autonomy are not unquestionably "good" things but, then again, they need not be a Troja
Book Description
How America ended up with a deficit of sixteen million adequate jobs, hurting nearly a quarter of American families. The "American dream" and the immigrant's vision of America as "the land of opportunity" both depend on the idea that everyone in this country who works hard can support a family and get ahead. Yet, as John Schwarz makes clear, even thirty years ago opportunity in America was drying up--to the point that, today, nearly a quarter of American families that depend on employment to sustain themselves can't find adequate work, despite tremendous economic growth. Illusions of Opportunity reveals how this happened--and how the signs have been consistently misread, manipulated, or ignored by leaders across the political spectrum. Schwarz's provocative and original new research demonstrates that, rather than global competition or suffocating governmental interference, the real culprits are too many people competing for too few good jobs, high productivity outpacing low wage increases, and pay raises disproportionately benefiting the highest earners. The belief that all citizens should be able to sustain themselves and their families and communities decently is one that Americans regardless of political affiliation still share. Schwarz shows how the loss of opportunity has led to social decay, and how--with a better understanding of the problems we face--we might make the American dream a reality again.
Customer Reviews:
The limits of the free-market to provide opportunity.......1998-03-16
In a time of ongoing reports of historically low "unemployment rates" this book offers an important corrective. Schwarz shows just how unhelpful our typical figures for unemployment are, and he makes a persuasive argument for the importance of focusing as a nation on the need to provide jobs that actually pay a living wage. The initial chapters may be a bit tough going, as he argues that provision of adequate opportunity has been a central part of the founding fathers' vision for America. But the latter chapters make clear just how short of this vision we have fallen. Schwarz shows that for a large number of Americans it does not matter if you have the skills, are kicked off of welfare, or are willing to work hard -- beyond a certain point our economy simply does not have the jobs for millions of adult Americans who need them. Some readers may balk at his proposals for addressing this problem, but this book may help all involved in the debate take the issue of actual vocational opportunity more seriously. This is the most important book on public policy that I have read in several years. David Carr, Columbus, Ohio
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Culture and the Labour Market
Siobhan Austen
Manufacturer: Edward Elgar Publishing
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ASIN: 1843763176 |
Book Description
Culture and the Labour Market attempts to define the meaning of culture and the nature of its possible consequences on economic processes and outcomes. In particular, the book examines alternative theoretical and empirical approaches to the economic analysis of cultural effects in the labor market. Using extensive new data from fourteen countries, the author finds tangible evidence of substantial cross-cultural differences in beliefs about wage inequality.
To enhance the study, Siobhan Austen looks in detail at the meaning and importance of social norms, shared beliefs and attitudes throughout the world. She examines recent trends in wage disparity around the globe and relates these to changing beliefs about the legitimacy of inequality. The results reveal that cultural norms relating to wage disparity actually alter with the experience of high levels of inequality. Significantly, the analysis also indicates that cultural norms have the potential to modify certain economic outcomes such as the wage structure and level of unemployment.
This comprehensive and highly original study of the economic influence of culture will be indispensable to labor and social economists. It will also be of value to academics working on labor market theory and policy, and the hitherto neglected link with culture.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2004. The length of the article is 1112 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Culture and the Labour Market.(Book Review)
Author: Paolo Ghinetti
Publication:
Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2004
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 59
Issue: 4
Page: 805(2)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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Education, Training and Labour Market Outcomes in Europe
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: 140392080X |
Book Description
The contributions collected in this volume take a fresh look at the traditional debate on education, training and labour market outcomes. The quality of education is difficult to measure in the education market and does not always find clear recognition in the labour market. The book provides new empirical evidence on these themes, including data specifically relating to Italy and the UK.
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Labor Markets and Employment Relationships: A Comprehensive Approach
Joyce P. Jacobsen , and
Gilbert Skillman
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
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Mathematical Methods for Economics (2nd Edition)
ASIN: 0631208364 |
Book Description
This innovative text grounds the economic analysis of labor markets and employment relationships in a unified theoretical treatment of labor exchange conditions. In addition to providing thorough coverage of standard topics including labor supply and demand, human capital theory, and compensating wage differentials, the text draws on game theory and the economics of information to study the implications of key departures from perfectly competitive labor market conditions. Analytical results are consistently applied to contemporary policy issues and empirical debates.The text is supplemented by text boxes that illustrate key concepts with real-world applications, chapter appendices that explore technical material in greater depth, and end-of-chapter study questions that encourage students to apply, extend, and critically evaluate the theories under study.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Labour/Le Travail, published by Canadian Committee on Labour History on March 22, 2003. The length of the article is 979 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The Limits of Rural Capitalism: Family, Culture, and Markets in Montcalm, Manitoba, 1870-1940. (Reviews/Comptes Rendus).(Book Review) (book review)
Author: J.F. Conway
Publication:
Labour/Le Travail (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2003
Publisher: Canadian Committee on Labour History
Page: 281(2)
Article Type: Book Review
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The Organization of Labour Markets: Modernity, Culture and Governance in Germany, Sweden, Britain and Japan (Routledge Explorations in Economic History, 2)
Bo Strath
Manufacturer: Routledge
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ASIN: 0415133149 |
Book Description
There have been dramatic shifts in the behavior of labor markets and the conduct of industrial relations in the last century. This volume explores these changes in the context of four very different societies: Germany, Sweden, Britain and Japan. However, despite their manifest differences, the author demonstrates that for long periods their labor markets were similar in many crucial respects. The book discusses the failure of neo-corporatism in Britain in the 1970s and the subsequent rise of Thatcherism; the rise of Japan as a model for orderly industrial relations in the 1970s and the collapse of the German and the success of the Swedish labor markets in the 1930s.
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Social Consequences of Economic Restructuring in the Textile Industry: Change in a Southern Mill Village (Transnational Business and Corporate Culture : Problems and Opportunities)
Cynthi Anderson
Manufacturer: Routledge
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ASIN: 0815336225 |
Book Description
This book analyzes the dramatic social impacts of global economic restructuring in the US textile industry and the consequences for Southern textile mill communities. With the expansion of markets in the global economy, government policies such as NAFTA and GATT are greatly affecting the domestic production of textiles. Increased global competitiveness has led to technological modernization, plant shutdowns, and downward pressure on wages. Many family-owned companies are merging into conglomerates, some of which are international. Concurrently, the structure of power and domination in Southern textile communities is changing. Paternalistic control, typically portrayed as a form of traditional authority and benevolent protection of workers, is no longer dominant. With the decreased need for skilled labor, textile company owners are not obligated to provide mill villages with housing electricity, and water. Formerly protected communities are now players on an international scale, with workers competing for jobs on a global level. New forms of class exploitation, racism, and sexism provide a contested terrain for mill employees.
As the industry restructures, workers and their households are faced with new challenges. To understand these social impacts, I examine globalization, restructuring, and spatialization as processes embedded in multiple layers of reality. The multi-level analysis focuses on the Southern textile industry, a leading firm, its surrounding labor market area, and members of the community. Historical, statistical and qualitative interviewing methods yield data that demonstrate redefined labor markets, reconstituted race relations, and household adaptations. Changes in firm and industry impact shop-floor labor processes, including increased production pace, new management strategies and technological adjustments. As embedded layers of social relations, the multi-level outcomes are both negative and positive, creating new winners and losers in Southern communities.
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