A categoria "mercado de trabalho": inspirações da sociologia econômica para um necessário reexame

O artigo problematiza o conceito de mercado de trabalho, tomando por inspiração a “nova sociologia econômica”, ou “sociologia dos mercados”. Primeiramente, caracteriza-se essa abordagem, em especial o contraponto que faz à concepção econômica — clássica e neoclássica — de mercado, com seus princípios de atomicidade, permeabilidade, transparência, etc. Na seção seguinte, evidencia-se a radical discrepância entre esses princípios, de um lado, e o legado da análise sociológica sobre o trabalho assalariado, de outro. No terceiro momento, tematizam-se as múltiplas formas de trabalho social que, escapando à modalidade emprego, reivindicam um tratamento teórico para além da relação de compra e venda de força de trabalho. Sustenta-se que a categoria analítica mercado de trabalho sofreu um processo de naturalização, carecendo de exercícios de vigilância epistemológica

Paradigmas de gestão: visões e práticas dos produtores de equipamentos de automação industrial no RS

This article starts with a brief characterization of microeletronic automation goods producer firms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It regards in particular the specific features of the production process, the technological intensity of the mix of products and the managerial procedures adopted in these companies. The analysis of both the organization of work and work management style within the ten visited firms as well as the opinions collected in interviews with management shows that actual practices and attitudes fall short from the major "models" and "paradigms" identified by academic researchers. Furthermore the paper shows that the label just-in-time is applied in a great variety of senses and to a wide range of phenomena, pointing out that this notion is much less consistent and much more limited than its widespread use leads to suppose. In addition these notions are highly rejected by the managerial staff in the set of the studied firms. In contrast to the assumption of the specialized literature that the automatic goods producers are decisive elements of the diffusion of the innovation process (lato sensu), data show that there is a lack of reflection of managers about the strategic role of work, on the contemporary productive process, both at the micro and macro level.This article starts with a brief characterization of microeletronic automation goods producer firms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It regards in particular the specific features of the production process, the technological intensity of the mix of products and the managerial procedures adopted in these companies. The analysis of both the organization of work and work management style within the ten visited firms as well as the opinions collected in interviews with management shows that actual practices and attitudes fall short from the major "models" and "paradigms" identified by academic researchers. Furthermore the paper shows that the label just-in-time is applied in a great variety of senses and to a wide range of phenomena, pointing out that this notion is much less consistent and much more limited than its widespread use leads to suppose. In addition these notions are highly rejected by the managerial staff in the set of the studied firms. In contrast to the assumption of the specialized literature that the automatic goods producers are decisive elements of the diffusion of the innovation process (lato sensu), data show that there is a lack of reflection of managers about the strategic role of work, on the contemporary productive process, both at the micro and macro level

A “Classe C” e sua alardeada ascensão: nova? Classe? Média?

This article adresses critically the notion of “Class C”, currently associated with the idea of a “new middle class”. Its starting point is Marcelo Neri's (FGV) formulation, assumably the most influential reference in the debate on this subject. Waldir Quadros' (Unicamp) contribution is also examined. First, the very use of the concept of “class” is questioned, once nothing more than household incomes are taken into consideration. Next, the positioning of this cohort as a “middle” one is shown to be quite fragile; finally, the “novelty” of the stated “class” is disputed. Key-words: Class C; new middle class; social stratification; social classes.O artigo aborda criticamente a noção de "Classe C" ou “nova classe média”. Toma como ponto de partida as formulações de Marcelo Neri, da Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), que é, possivelmente, a principal referência quanto ao tema. Recorre, ainda, à contribuição de Waldir Quadros, da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp). Questiona se a designação “classe” é apropriada, tendo em vista que se baseia apenas no critério de renda familiar; problematiza a “localização” dessa coorte como “média”; e põe em dúvida a sua “novidade”

Perfil e perspectivas do trabalho no "complexo das tecnologias de informação": a produção de softwares no Rio Grande do Sul

The notion of "Information Technology (IT) 'complex'" underlines the complementarities and interdependence of a wide range of industrial activities and services. In this "complex", software plays an increasing role. This paper is based on a research concerned with labor force in software-houses in Rio Grande do Sul. In this Brazilian state, a significant domestic software industry has emerged, from the eighties onwards. We describe its main characteristics, emphasizing the key role of skilled labor for the performance of these firms, as well as the strategies employed by local software-houses to face the scarcity of this resource. The analysis of manpower and labor relations takes into account, primarily, the specificity of products and processes and the dynamics of technical change in the IT. Software activities favor the constitution of a specific labor market segment at the regional level, with distinctive features that we try to analyze. The perspectives of this segment, however, rely on the very sustainability of this set of firms, which currently is facing a shift in patterns of competition. In the mid nineties, the major International software corporations (the so-called BOPS group) entered Brazilian market. Whatever the outcomes of this increasing competition, the technical capabilities the local software-houses have been able to generate — as externalities of their own trajectories up to these days — have remarkable environmental importance and they might even give support to new IT related activitiesThe notion of "Information Technology (IT) 'complex'" underlines the complementarities and interdependence of a wide range of industrial activities and services. In this "complex", software plays an increasing role. This paper is based on a research concerned with labor force in software-houses in Rio Grande do Sul. In this Brazilian state, a significant domestic software industry has emerged, from the eighties onwards. We describe its main characteristics, emphasizing the key role of skilled labor for the performance of these firms, as well as the strategies employed by local software-houses to face the scarcity of this resource. The analysis of manpower and labor relations takes into account, primarily, the specificity of products and processes and the dynamics of technical change in the IT. Software activities favor the constitution of a specific labor market segment at the regional level, with distinctive features that we try to analyze. The perspectives of this segment, however, rely on the very sustainability of this set of firms, which currently is facing a shift in patterns of competition. In the mid nineties, the major International software corporations (the so-called BOPS group) entered Brazilian market. Whatever the outcomes of this increasing competition, the technical capabilities the local software-houses have been able to generate — as externalities of their own trajectories up to these days — have remarkable environmental importance and they might even give support to new IT related activitie