Revision Collective Comms

Question 1

Main focus

Answer 1

On institutions and processes of governance with emphasis on joint regulation of work by independent bodies such as unions and work councils

Question 2

Trade unions

Answer 2

Look after the interests of employees at work by;

Negotiating agreements with employers on pay and conditions

Discussing big changes such as large scale redundancy

Discussing members concerns with employers

going to disciplinary meetings union structures differ 
General unions (all workers) , craft unions (skilled groupings across industries ) , industrial unions (all grades in industry ), conglomerate unions (members in more than one industry), Enterprise unions (all enterprise members )

Question 3

Collective bargaining

Answer 3

Distributive bargaining - assume a fixed amount of value to be divided between parties, the more one gains the less available for the other

Integrative bargaining - creates value in the course of negotiation, “expand the pie” , objectives about areas of common concern - requires trust and problem solving to achieve mutual gains p

Question 4

Voice

Answer 4

General overarching concept - various ways In which employees take part in decision making in organisations

Includes :
Employee participation (power sharing)
Employee involvement (soliciting of employee views)

Participation structures include :
Bargaining by councils / unions , constraining management freedom

Question 5

Potential influences of trade unions

Answer 5

Influencing wage levels

Constraining ability to vary levels of emolument (lobbying governments )

Question 6

How practice differs across countries

Answer 6

Enormous cross national comparative variations in systems of employee relations

Unions and collective bargaining of joint regulation are declining (gradually) across many countries

Unions and collective bargaining remains widespread and important amongst larger employers and across the public sector in Europe

Question 7

Globalisation and MNCs

Answer 7

MNCs often view trade unions as a constraint (barrier to competitiveness, brake on agility/ need to rationalise operations

Question 8

Linking the practice to current developments in the business environment

Answer 8

Individualisation - society from collective to individualist

Increased number of self employed

Question 9

The flex paradox

Answer 9

More security, more willingness for risk taking

Job insecurity -> avoid risks

Flex workers decreases people’s willingness to take risk

Question 10

Explaining outcomes and functions based on OB theories

Answer 10

Organisational (outcomes on firm level)

Individual (psychological mechanisms on individual level )

Question 11

HR practices aimed at increasing involvement

Answer 11

Recognition practices (employee suggestions seriously considered )

Empowerment practices (employees given latitude for performance)

Competence development (employees can develop skills in order to increase chances of being promoted)

Fair rewards practices (I estimate my salary being fair internally )

Information sharing practises (employees regularly informed of future corporate projects )