The literature on worker participation generally assumes that worker participation programs lead to positive work outcomes (e.g., job satisfaction) in more or less direct fashion. The current study challenges this assumption and posits that "desire for participation," and "attitudes toward participation," may affect the participation-satisfaction relationship. Data were gathered from a quality circle (QC) program at a large electronics manufacturing firm, using both quantitative (survey questionnaire), and qualitative (interviews, observation, meeting attendance) means. QC members and non members were compared on all attitude measures, and on general job satisfaction. The results indicated the following: (a) the participation-satisfaction thesis was not supported, (b) desire for participation emerged as a salient variable in terms of its relationship to job satisfaction and selected attitudes toward participation, (c) QC membership did not sufficiently enlist workers with a strong desire for participation, (d) management was criticized for interfering with the QC process, and (e) QCs were categorized as "manager-dominated," "stable," or "in crisis." The overall conclusion was that the relationship between worker participation and job satisfaction is more complex than it is characterized in extant literature. Recommendations for further research included: (a) the call for systematic exploration of desire for participation, and (b) analyses of the performance outcomes (e.g., productivity) of QCs in terms of the model tested in this study.

by Wong Ching-Ngok. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 37). / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II --- METHODOLOGY --- p.5 / Chapter III --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.7 / Chapter IV --- ANALYSIS --- p.13 / Equator --- p.13 / Data Standards --- p.15 / Supply Standard --- p.15 / Capacity/Tradeoffs --- p.17 / Yield --- p.18 / Cycle Time --- p.18 / Master Data --- p.18 / Stage Process Codes --- p.19 / Planning Device --- p.22 / Demand Standard --- p.23 / Customer --- p.24 / Forecasting Device --- p.26 / Inventory Target --- p.26 / Demand Prioritization --- p.26 / Product --- p.27 / Request for Product --- p.28 / Bill of Material Standards --- p.28 / Chapter V --- CONCLUSION/COMMENTS --- p.32 / Employee Feedback --- p.32 / Customer Comments --- p.33 / Looking Forward --- p.34 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.36

M.B.A. / One of the most basic motivations for acquisitions is growth. Acquisitions provide means whereby a firm can grow quickly. Firms acquire other firms with the hope of experiencing economic gains. These economic gains may come as a result of economies of scale or scope. Economies of scale are the reductions in per — unit costs that come as the size of the firm's operations, in terms of revenues or units of production, increases. Economies of scope occur when a firm can offer a broad range of services to its customer base. The growth of Voltex involved horizontal acquisition of ELCENTRE, and other Electrical wholesalers throughout South Africa. The pursuit of "Market Power" was the main motive in the formation of Voltex in 1990. The buyout of ELGRO, the parent company of ELCENTRE was the vertical integration in pursuit of financial synergy. The financial synergy lowered the volatility of cash flows, by gaining the confidence of the suppliers of capital, and investors viewed Voltex less risky. The takeover of ELGRO was caused by the failure of Bennet & Fountain (B&F), a UK subsidiary of Voltex. Successful acquisitions can be a source of value creation and growth. Unsuccessful acquisitions can destroy value rapidly, as could seen in this dissertation, B & F did destroy value, which led to operating problems. Top executives could also lose their jobs when acquisitions fail.

published_or_final_version / Japanese Studies / Master / Master of Philosophy

After 30 years' market reforms and exported-oriented industrialization, China has created an economic miracle by playing the role of a world factory. With a case study of a high-tech electronics manufacturing firm (anonymously referred as HiTek) in Suzhou, this dissertation explores the labor process and labor relations in advanced manufacturing under the global production system and in the context of China's industrial upgrading. / In my empirical analysis, I firstly trace how global production network changes the production process and unravel the mutual influences between the labor market with local clustering and the employers' recruitment strategies. I take them as the key background factors in the shaping of the politics of flexible production. Then, I use the case study of HiTek and analyze how it implements the customized mass production with high performance and high flexibility on the shop floor in the face of volatile product markets and labor market. I point out that in order to secure the subordination and better cooperation from its workers, HiTeck gives up the direct coercive despotic factory regime and executes the flexible despotism combining with enforcing strict disciplinary management, responding to workers' interests and rights, and even establishing the internal communication mechanisms. However, I indicate that although workers obtain more legal rights, they fail to effectively improve their labor conditions under the new labor control. In the meantime, the social status of migrant workers restricts their claims for social benefits and enhances their mobility. As a result, workers have to voice and seek to make use labor market opportunities for improving their conditions. Finally, I stress that the consequence of the interaction between the global flexible production and the workers' resistance against labor control leads to the uncertain employment relationship characterized by the high turnover of workers. I also emphasize that it is Chinese workers who finally pay high costs for such a relationship: they not only fail to enhance bargaining powers with their employers, but also suffer from an insecure and uncertain environment. / The dissertation develops an analytical framework of the politics of flexible production in the age of the globalizing production. My theoretical discussion begins with the theory of production politics developed by Michael Burawoy. I emphasize that labor process should be examined not only within the workplace, but also in relation to external societal factors. I argue that the pursuit of flexibility of global production changes the structuring of labor process: the external markets are not static conditions to manufacturers, but are now becoming dynamic factors shaping production arrangements and labor control. Hence, I indicate that flexible production has brought about a sophisticated triangular relationship between the buyers from developed countries, the transnational manufacturers in newly industrialized countries, and the workers in developing countries, particularly in China. This is quite different from the previous studies wherein the focus is placed on a simple dual relationship between manufactures and workers within a single country. / 薛紅. / Adviser: Tai-Lok Lui. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-10, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-215). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Xue Hong.