Work organization and preferences dynamics

We present a model with intergenerational transmission of preferences providing a joint explanation of preference evolution and of work organization changes in a society. We focus on the preference for autonomy, defined as an individual's degree of initiative and the value they attach to self direction. We show that the economy has several steady states with different levels of worker autonomy and of the degree of coercion in the work place. The Industrial Revolution and the recent return of flexible forms of organization enable us to illustrate the existence of organizational path dependency. Indeed, the current technological shocks, impacting on the long-run distribution of preferences, modify the future possibilities of adoption of new organizational forms.Cultural transmission, work organization, industrial revolution, historical path dependency.

Quality and work organization with advanced automation in Portugal

In this paper it is analysed the relationships between work organisation and quality systems in firms that uses some forms of advanced automation. Are characterised the existing quality control structures in the Portuguese industry, and the main factors that hidden or fosters the development of sociotechnical methods of quality control organisation strategies. Are analysed some industrial cases that explains more clearly the critical issues of the implementation of quality systems and work organisation systems. A few recommendations are given about the possibilities for the development of new forms of work organisation and the quality systems associated to automated manufacturing systems

"If We Don't Produce, Bring Another:" Work Organization and Tomato Worker Health.

Objectives: Specific work processes and management structures that contribute to high rates of occupational illness and injury in agricultural industries are not well described in academic literature. This qualitative study of work organization in the U.S. fresh tomato industry investigates how work processes and management structures impact tomato workers' occupational health. Methods: After conducting literature review and key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 36 individuals with experience working in the U.S. fresh tomato industry. Interviews and focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results: These data indicate that participants endured income insecurity and hazardous supervisory practices, including wage theft, retaliation, intimidation, and humiliation, that put them at risk of preventable illness and injury. Support from workers' organizations and health-conscious supervisory practices helped mitigate some of these occupational hazards. Conclusion: Participants' adverse work experiences may be considered sequelae of workers' lack of job control and positions of socioeconomic structural vulnerability. Other aspects of tomato work organization, including health-conscious supervisory practices and the involvement of workers' organizations, indicate that modifying work organization to better safeguard health is possible. Such modifications present compelling opportunities for employers, employees, organizations, community and government leaders, and health care professionals to help create healthier occupational environments for tomato workers

A glossary for the social epidemiology of work organization. Part 3: terms from labour markets

This is part 3 of a three-part glossary on the social epidemiology of work organisation. The first two parts deal with the social psychology of work and with organisations. This concluding part presents concepts related to labour markets. These concepts are drawn from economics, business and sociology. They relate both to traditional interests in these disciplines and to contemporary ideas on post-industrialisation and globalisation, particularly the growth of employment in service industries, the development of a 24-h economy, increased participation of the female labour force and the perceived needs of employers in emerging high-tech economies.These changes are of particular interest because they are linked to increasing inequality in earnings and changes in social relationships in employment. These concepts have the potential to elucidate the pathways through which health is affected by conditions of work as an underlying cause

Work Organization, Wage Pressure in the Secondary Labor Market, and the Green Card

Two trends have marked the politico-economic discussion in many industrialized countries in recent years. On the one hand, international production, workplace decentralization, shareholder orientation and generous manager remuneration have changed the face of firms in the primary economy. On the other hand, there is increased pressure on the secondary labor market revealed by unemployment or declining wages of low-skilled workers. This paper establishes a causal relationship between the two trends by developing a model in which labor market segmentation stems from the fact that organizational labor (management) is a key element in the primary, but not in the secondary economy. We also evaluate the effectiveness of selective immigration policies for high-skilled workers (green card).Dual labor market; reorganization of work, organizational labor, international competition, green card

Educational innovations in self-dependent work organization

The article is devoted to the relevant as of today problem of the innovation forms like digital library system, network resources etc. in self-dependent work organization. The author come to conclusion that educational innovations give a major opportunity to make students` self-dependent work comprehensive, challenging and removableСтатья посвящена актуальной на сегодняшний день проблеме – применение педагогических инновационных форм при организации самостоятельной работы: электронные библиотечные системы, ресурсы сети Интернет и др.; автор приходит к выводу, что педагогические инновации представляют большие возможности сделать самостоятельную работу студентов комплексной, интересной и мобильно