This thesis examines how worker consent is achieved in two Japanese owned Multi National Companies (MNC) based in the North East of England: Nissan Motor Manufacturer UK and its part owned supplier company Ikeda Hoover Ltd. These companies have adopted lean, flexible work practices which proponents claim constitute a reversal of Taylorist work methods as workers are able to participate in the attainment of corporate goals. The adoption of such practices, it is claimed, will lead to a fundamental alteration in British industrial relations as worker hostility to management demands will be reduced as workers are able to 'make their own change'. This research illustrates that while Multi National companies select environments best suited to the attainment of worker consent, it cannot be assumed that the advantages they gain will be shared by component suppliers which seek to operate a Just in Time (JIT) production system through close proximity. Secondly, while large manufacturers operating JIT choose supplier companies which adopt practices similar to their own, it cannot be assumed that similarity can be maintained. This research illustrates that JIT increases pressure on suppliers and that affects work process, management style, industrial relations and worker consent within the supplier company. I will examine how through an examination of the subjective responses of workers to the political and economic environment, to employment security, to self identity, to the labour process and management style. an understanding of worker consent or resistance to self subordination can be established. Failure to discover the meanings workers attach to actions can lead to an overestimation of the genuine level of commitment to corporate goals and a failure to appreciate the heterogeneity of workers perspectives and responses and strategies. Worker consent is dependent on the legitimacy of claims that flexible, lean working practices can provide employment security.

No description available.

The significant change that organisations must endure in order to survive, let alone prosper, has grown tremendously in the past two decades. The lack of talent, especially amongst the previously disadvantaged groups, is one of numerous challenges South African organisations are confronted with. Organisations are therefore required to determine indicators of intention to leave as it is argued to be the single most important predictor of actual quitting behaviour. Variables found to relate to intention to leave include a sense of powerlessness and a lack of engagement. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour, job insecurity, engagement and intention to leave in a petrochemical laboratory. The research method consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A cross - sectional survey design was used. The entire population of employees working in a business unit of a petrochemical organisation, namely the Laboratory, was targeted. The Leader Empowering Behaviour Questionnaire, Job Insecurity Inventory, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and two questions measuring intention to leave were used. In addition, a biographical questionnaire was administered. The statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of the SPSS programme. The statistical method employed in the study consisted of descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation and a multiple regression analysis. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the significance of differences between the experience of leadership empowerment behaviour, job insecurity, engagement and intention to leave of demograpbic groups. Results indicated that leadership empowerment behaviour was negatively correlated with cognitive job insecurity and that a negative relationship existed between leadership empowerment behaviour and intention to leave. Leadership empowerment behaviour was found to be positively correlated with engagement. A positive relationship existed between cognitive job insecurity and affective job insecurity, as well as between cognitive job insecurity and intention to leave. Cognitive job insecurity was found to be negatively correlated with engagement. A negative relationship was established between engagement and intention to leave. All these correlations were found to be statistically and practically significant with a medium to large effect. Regression analysis indicated that leadership empowerment behaviour and affective job insecurity did not show a significant amount of predictive value towards intention to leave. Cognitive job insecurity and engagement were found to be indicators of intention to leave. With regards to experiencing leadership empowerment behaviour, engagement and intention to leave, no significant differences were found between demographic groups. Participants in middle non -management positions, however, experienced higher levels of affective job insecurity than those in senior management positions. Conclusions and limitations of the current research were discussed and recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Generally, studies on social work supervision, in the university setting, has focused mainly on students’ experiences. Research on the experience of the supervisor, or agency, providing guidance is scant. This study argues that the narrow focus on students’ experiences is disproportionate, and marginalises all the other stakeholders involved in fieldwork education. In addition, the existing studies create blind spots for programme evaluation, as they are not holistic. This current study proposes a broader analysis. Global and national standards for social work training involve the theory and practice component of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programme. The practice component requires students to conduct fieldwork training at social work organisations, under the supervision of a qualified and experienced social worker. International and local studies on the supervision of BSW students reveal that social workers often consider themselves to be underprepared to supervise students. In addition, social workers often lack post-qualifying training to undertake student supervision, specifically, which is further exacerbated by the dearth of policies, or legislation, stipulating post-qualifying training and experience for the supervision of BSW students. The purpose of this current study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of social workers, related to fieldwork supervision in the BSW degree, at a selected university in the Western Cape (WC), South Africa (SA). A qualitative research approach was used, as it is attentive to the personal experiences, from the insider’s perspective, and aims to understand multiple realities. This approach is relevant to the current study, as it focuses on exploring and describing the perceptions and experiences of the participants, which the qualitative method underscores. A case study design was utilised, as it is descriptive, and is an in-depth study of a single instance of a social phenomenon. The case, in this instance, is the BSW programme at a selected university. Purposive sampling was used, as the participants, who are most representative of the study, were selected in the sampling process. The sample for this study comprised of twenty four participants: 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted and 13 questionnaires were completed by registered social workers. The following data verification methods were used: http://etd.uwc.ac.za ii member checking (See Annexure J); triangulation; researcher reflexivity; peer debriefing and an on-going dialogue, regarding the researcher’s interpretations of the data, as this aided the accuracy of the findings. Coding was applied by the researcher to create categories within the data, and thematic analysis to further identify the emerging themes and sub-themes, which were subsequently funnelled. Typologies are interpreted and developed, and the data, finally presented. Four themes and sixteen sub-themes emerged from the data (See Chapter 4). The focus of theme four was on continuous professional development (CPD), which reiterates the importance of post-qualifying training of social workers who supervise BSW students, and the importance of this study. This study recommends CPD of all social workers who provide fieldwork supervision in the BSW programme. There is also a need for emotional support for students and essentially fieldwork supervision needs to be viewed as indispensable to academia. An implication of the lack of CPD could be detrimental to students and could lead to stagnation in the field of social work and ultimately affect the standard of the profession.

The McDonald's model of labour management has been widely adopted throughout the fast food industry. Literature that is critical of fast food labour management policy and practice often portrays employers as offering work that is low paid, unchallenging and uninteresting. However, others argue that the industry provides young workers with: a first resume entry, training opportunities, the chance to develop a career and a path into employment. This study interprets these two perspectives as reflecting either misalignment or alignment of employee/crew and employer preferences. Such an interpretation recognises that fast food work does not represent a career for many who do it but is short term or 'stop-gap' in nature. The study's research question is: to what extent does management preference for elements of work align with the preferred working arrangements of crew at McDonald's Australia? This research subjects McDonald's Australian stores to independent scrutiny. Previous research in this area has mostly used qualitative methods. Earlier studies, by and large, provide descriptive accounts of fast food employment however they often lack the rigour of an empirical investigation. The present research uses a structured survey method to obtain data from crew and managers. Results are analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings focus on three areas of labour management: industrial relations, work organisation and human resource management. Several themes relating to alignment of preferences in the fast food employment relationship are identified. These are: crew have scant knowledge of industrial relations, do not like aspects of work organisation, but respond positively to certain human resource management policies and practices; crew lack knowledge of labour management issues generally; crew work is simple and repetitive; and, many young crew seem to dislike aspects of fast food work as they get older but others, who have distinctive characteristics, appear to continue to like the McDonald's approach as they age.

Denna uppsats handlar om en kurs, vid namn Elkompetens A, en grundläggande, men också behörighetsgivande kurs som ingår i Elprogrammets obligatoriska kurser. Den genomförs vid Carlsunds Utbildningscentrum i Motala på elprogrammets första årskurs. I detta arbete har jag försökt få svar på, vilken av två olika arbetsupplägg, som gav eleverna mest utbyte i form av kunskaper att bygga vidare på i nästkommande årskurser. Den stora skillnaden i uppläggen, är utgångspunkten för kursen. Efterforskningen är i första hand byggd på intervjuer med elever ur två olika årskullar. / This is an evaluation of two different ways of carrying out basic course in electrical installation at upper secondary school at the electrical engineering program. The difference is the point of departure for the course and in what work organisation the different practical parts has been made. The evaluation is grounded on interviews with students and their final tests.

<p>Denna uppsats handlar om en kurs, vid namn Elkompetens A, en grundläggande, men också behörighetsgivande kurs som ingår i Elprogrammets obligatoriska kurser. Den genomförs vid Carlsunds Utbildningscentrum i Motala på elprogrammets första årskurs.</p><p>I detta arbete har jag försökt få svar på, vilken av två olika arbetsupplägg, som gav eleverna mest utbyte i form av kunskaper att bygga vidare på i nästkommande årskurser. Den stora skillnaden i uppläggen, är utgångspunkten för kursen. Efterforskningen är i första hand byggd på intervjuer med elever ur två olika årskullar.</p> / <p>This is an evaluation of two different ways of<strong> </strong>carrying out basic course in electrical installation at upper secondary school at the electrical engineering program. The difference is the point of departure for the course and in what work organisation the different practical parts has been made. The evaluation is grounded on interviews with students<strong> </strong>and their final tests.</p>

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between work organisation and the labour market status of employees in Sweden, during the years 2008 to 2012. The main interest is to analyse the probability of staying employed or not, and staying employed after the general retirement age.To assess this relationship three different data sources are combined. Work organisation is approximated with the NU2012 survey, which was conducted by the Swedish Work Environment Authority. We use an empirical combination of the questions, and the work organisation is assumed constant throughout the years. Separate regressions are estimated for each possible labour market status. The regressions are estimated with cross section models and random effects panel data models.We find that there is a relationship between work organisation and employees’ labour market positions. Numerical flexibility is found to affect the work environment and the individuals’ labour market statuses negatively. Decentralisation’s and learning’s impact on the individuals’ labour market status is, however, incoherent with theories and previous research. These results are probably due to the reverse time causality of the study. Finally we propose that it is important to investigate this relationship further to be able to make policy changes.

The significant change that organisations must endure in order to survive, let alone prosper, has grown tremendously in the past two decades. The lack of talent, especially amongst the previously disadvantaged groups, is one of numerous challenges South African organisations are confronted with. Organisations are therefore required to determine indicators of intention to leave as it is argued to be the single most important predictor of actual quitting behaviour. Variables found to relate to intention to leave include a sense of powerlessness and a lack of engagement. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour, job insecurity, engagement and intention to leave in a petrochemical laboratory. The research method consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A cross - sectional survey design was used. The entire population of employees working in a business unit of a petrochemical organisation, namely the Laboratory, was targeted. The Leader Empowering Behaviour Questionnaire, Job Insecurity Inventory, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and two questions measuring intention to leave were used. In addition, a biographical questionnaire was administered. The statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of the SPSS programme. The statistical method employed in the study consisted of descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation and a multiple regression analysis. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the significance of differences between the experience of leadership empowerment behaviour, job insecurity, engagement and intention to leave of demograpbic groups. Results indicated that leadership empowerment behaviour was negatively correlated with cognitive job insecurity and that a negative relationship existed between leadership empowerment behaviour and intention to leave. Leadership empowerment behaviour was found to be positively correlated with engagement. A positive relationship existed between cognitive job insecurity and affective job insecurity, as well as between cognitive job insecurity and intention to leave. Cognitive job insecurity was found to be negatively correlated with engagement. A negative relationship was established between engagement and intention to leave. All these correlations were found to be statistically and practically significant with a medium to large effect. Regression analysis indicated that leadership empowerment behaviour and affective job insecurity did not show a significant amount of predictive value towards intention to leave. Cognitive job insecurity and engagement were found to be indicators of intention to leave. With regards to experiencing leadership empowerment behaviour, engagement and intention to leave, no significant differences were found between demographic groups. Participants in middle non -management positions, however, experienced higher levels of affective job insecurity than those in senior management positions. Conclusions and limitations of the current research were discussed and recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

No / This paper is based on a study of the employment practices of one Italian-owned multinational corporation (MNC) and one US-owned MNC in the Italian quick-food service sector and examines such issues as work organization, unionization, employee representation and pay and conditions. The paper focuses on the concept of ‘dominance’ and the related convergence and divergence theses. The findings suggest that dominance can not only be interpreted as a mode of employment or production emanating from one country, but could also be associated with one dominant MNC in one sector. Consequently, it is argued that while the effect of host and home country influences may be significant factors in cross-border employment relations practices, more attention needs to be paid to organizational contingencies and the sectoral characteristics within which firms operate.