ORGANISATION AND CONTROL OF THE LABOUR PROCESS Flashcards
Outline the division of labour and how it has developed?
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.
Outline Taylor’s principles of scientific management
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.
When was Taylor’s principles first applied?
When Henry ford made the first mass produced car in 1908 using assembly lines.
what did Taylor’s principles lead to?
The long term profits of capitalism arose from deskilling, as skilled labour was no longer valuable.
Outline Durkheims view on the division of labour?
Durkheim thought that the division of labour creates social solidarity. He saw societies move from mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity.
Define mechanical and organic solidarity
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.
Outline Marx’s view on the division of labour
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
Who and when outlined an influential theory on alienation?
Blauner in 1964
What were the four aspects which alienation involved?
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
Give two critiques of Blauners theory
Out of date, reflects early fordist assembly lines and not post fordist.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.
Outline the concept of the dual labour market as introduced by piore
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.
Outline ritzers concept of mcdonaldization
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
Outline bravermans deskilling thesis
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.
Give two criticisms of deskilling
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.
What does evidence in the last 30 years show in regards to upskilling?
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.
How does education prove upskilling? Explain the nursing example
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.
How does the new 2014 national curriculum contribute to the upskilling debate?
There was a major increase in technology maths and science subject through education which technologically and scientifically trains individuals for skilful employment
Give 2 criticisms of upskilling
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%
Outline zuboffs work on the impact of technology
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.
Outline mcdonaldization
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
Outline Disneyisation
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.
