ORGANISATION AND CONTROL OF THE LABOUR PROCESS

Question 1

Outline the division of labour and how it has developed?

Answer 1

The division of labour applies to how the range of work tasks in a society are organised. In pre industrial society, labour was divided according to individual strengths and led to craftsmen carrying out all steps in a process for production. However, due to the industrial revolution the division of labour became more intense whereby creativity was taken away and processes were broken down into small and simple tasks.

Question 2

Outline Taylor’s principles of scientific management

Answer 2

Light control over the workforce, and that the work tasks should each be seen as a piece of scientific machinery which all work together towards a final outcome. In order to gain maximum output from the workforce, tasks should be refined down to the smallest tasks, all skill should be removed from the workers job so the labour process would be independent of autonomy.

Question 3

When was Taylor’s principles first applied?

Answer 3

When Henry ford made the first mass produced car in 1908 using assembly lines.

Question 4

what did Taylor’s principles lead to?

Answer 4

The long term profits of capitalism arose from deskilling, as skilled labour was no longer valuable.

Question 5

Outline Durkheims view on the division of labour?

Answer 5

Durkheim thought that the division of labour creates social solidarity. He saw societies move from mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity.

Question 6

Define mechanical and organic solidarity

Answer 6

Mechanical solidarity refers to pre-industrial society whereby peasants were strongly connected by sharing a similar status values and beliefs.

Organic solidarity refers to industrial society where individuals are interdependent on each other due to the more simplex division of labour.

Question 7

Outline Marx’s view on the division of labour

Answer 7

The bourgeoise own the means of production and the working class have no choice but to work for them in order to survive. The division of labour facilitates for deskilling. This majorly increases alienation whereby the worker becomes detached from society due to a lack of control over their suture

Question 8

Who and when outlined an influential theory on alienation?

Answer 8

Blauner in 1964

Question 9

What were the four aspects which alienation involved?

Answer 9

Powerlessness - worker has no control over decisions
Meaningless - work is seen as pointless
Isolation - workers feel isolation from fellow workers (like cogs in a machine)
Self estrangement - no creativity or self expression

Question 10

Give two critiques of Blauners theory

Answer 10

Out of date, reflects early fordist assembly lines and not post fordist.

Marxists argue that the main cause of alienation is the private ownership of means of production not technology.

Question 11

Outline the concept of the dual labour market as introduced by piore

Answer 11

He studied how the impact of technological change leads to labour market segmentation. And that many disadvantaged individuals were confined to the secondary labour market which was characterised by: low pay, insecure employment, low wages, low skills. As opposed to the primary labour market which consisted of middle/upper classes.

Question 12

Outline ritzers concept of mcdonaldization

Answer 12

He claims that labour in modern society in fast food chains involves: efficiency - labour process is simplified
Calculability - time and production is calculated to produce a certain amount
Predictability - the products are consistent, predictable and can be duplicated as much as needed
Management control - workers behaviour is controlled through direct supervision so they behave like robots

Question 13

Outline bravermans deskilling thesis

Answer 13

Writing from a Marxist perspective, braverman argues that the labour process in capitalist society reflects the conflict between the bourgeoise and the proletariat. The managers cannot trust their workers to work efficiently. So managers maximise their control so they don’t have to rely on cooperation from proletariat. This is achieved through deskilling so worker loose all control in the labour process and are easily replaceable. For example, an early example of deskilling is fords cars, and a modern is mcdonaldization.

Question 14

Give two criticisms of deskilling

Answer 14

Piore argues that rather than removing skills technology has created more skills.
Upskilling has occurred in many manual jobs with more skills and qualifications needed to work.

Question 15

What does evidence in the last 30 years show in regards to upskilling?

Answer 15

High skilled positions such as professionals have expanded whereas low skilled positions have expanded at a lower rate.

Skilled workers have also seen their wages to rise over unskilled worker.

Question 16

How does education prove upskilling? Explain the nursing example

Answer 16

In 2013, there were 12 million graduates in the UK which implies an upskilled economy of workers. 30 years ago, it was possible to train as a nurse with three GCSEs. However, entry to nursing is now permitted through a university education.

Question 17

How does the new 2014 national curriculum contribute to the upskilling debate?

Answer 17

There was a major increase in technology maths and science subject through education which technologically and scientifically trains individuals for skilful employment

Question 18

Give 2 criticisms of upskilling

Answer 18

In 2013 national statistics stated that half of students with a graduation were in non graduate roles.

From 1993 to 2011 the portion of women doing low paid unskilled work rose from 7% to 21%

Question 19

Outline zuboffs work on the impact of technology

Answer 19

Zubboff studied work in 1980s and found that technology was used to increase the control over workers. Due to computers, workers are now under an official gaze; they may be subject to cctv and their work is continually evaluated through review from management. She notes that ‘cybernetic identities’ essentially shape out career and promotion prospects.

Question 20

Outline mcdonaldization

Answer 20

First coined by George ritzer, a concept that can be observed across a wide spectrum of occupations. Whereby workers are faced with meeting standardised quality measures achieved by breaking down work based tasks into smaller tasks in order to find the most efficeiant method of completing it

Question 21

Outline Disneyisation

Answer 21

Initially coined by Alan bryman, he states it complements mcdonaldization. Besides ritzers key criteria, Bryman identifies four other trends: theming, merchandising, de-differentiation of consumption (multiple consumption opportunities in one area), and the development of ‘emotional labour’ cheerful workers with fixed smiles.