Palmer, Gerry (2000) Embeddedness and workplace relations : a case study of a British-based Japanese manufacturing company. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis presents an analysis of workplace relations in a British-based,
Japanese manufacturing company. The extent and nature of managerial
hegemony within Japanese transplants, and the ability of workers to pursue
informal means of 'counter-control', are both highly contested issues within
the 'Japanisation' debate. It is these two related issues that are addressed
here. The research is based primarily on a nine-week period of participant
observation as a shopfloor worker. This was supplemented by interviews and
'shadowing' of key personnel in the case study company. In addition,
interviews were held with staff in buyer and supplier firms trading with the
case company.
This thesis devises a framework based on embeddedness
(Granovetter, 1985) to analyse the research data. Using the constructs of
networks and social relations which constitute embeddedness, four network
structures and three categories of social relations are applied to workplace
relations in the case study company. It is argued that the embedded ness
framework provides a way of resolving concerns not addressed satisfactorily
by other academic studies of the labour process in Japanese transplants. As
this framework has not previously been applied to the labour process debate it
represents a novel contribution to academic debate.
A number of key conclusions emerge. First, workers have retained the
capacity to engage in resistance in at least some high-surveillance
organisations. This illustrates the significance of setting control and
surveillance systems in the organisation's social and economic context.
Second, a 'holistic' approach is required in order to understand the complexity
of the labour process and to establish why workplace relations take their
specific form in particular contexts. Third, in analysing Japanese transplants,
the policies of the companies and actions of management need to be
explored with awareness of their potential shortcomings and tensions, rather
than solely from a perspective of coherence and effectiveness.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Industrial relations -- Great Britain, Industrial relations -- Japan, International business enterprises
Official Date:	August 2000
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Warwick Business School
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Edwards, P. K. (Paul K.); Elger, Tony, 1946-
Extent:	iii, 332, [21] leaves.
Language:	eng

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