industrial relations
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Chapter 1
THE STUDY OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Chapter 2
THE CHANGING NATURE OF WORK
AND EMPLOYMENT
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Page 1
part one the n a t u re and c o n t e x t of industrial re l a t i o n s
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chapter one the study of industrial relations learning objectives
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
Distinguish between the ‘commonsense’ and ‘theoreticallyinformed’ definitions of ‘industrial relations’.
Provide examples of industrial-relations situations and events.
Discuss the similarities and differences between three ideological perspectives on the nature of the employment relationship—namely, ‘pluralism’,
‘unitarism’ and ‘radicalism’.
Identify the different analytical tools used in three approaches to the study of the employment relationship—namely, ‘neoinstitutionalism’, ‘human resource management’ and
‘labour process’.
Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to the study of the employment relationship.
Understand the approach to the study of industrial relations that is used in the rest of this book.
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Page 4
introduction
4
Everyone who derives an income through work or who becomes involved in the organisation and management of employees at work is immersed in the practice of industrial relations. The overall quality of the employment relationship and changes in industrial relations can have an important effect on the overall performance of an organisation. At the same time, the terms and conditions of employment directly affect the quality of employees’ working lives and their capacity to enjoy many aspects of their lives outside of work. These issues of ‘efficiency’ and ‘equity’—the contributions of industrial relations to the
11/8/04
3:01 PM
Page ii
Chapter 1
THE STUDY OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Chapter 2
THE CHANGING NATURE OF WORK
AND EMPLOYMENT
bray_Chapter 01
11/8/04
3:01 PM
Page 1
part one the n a t u re and c o n t e x t of industrial re l a t i o n s
bray_Chapter 01
11/8/04
3:01 PM
Page 2
bray_Chapter 01
11/8/04
3:01 PM
Page 3
chapter one the study of industrial relations learning objectives
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
Distinguish between the ‘commonsense’ and ‘theoreticallyinformed’ definitions of ‘industrial relations’.
Provide examples of industrial-relations situations and events.
Discuss the similarities and differences between three ideological perspectives on the nature of the employment relationship—namely, ‘pluralism’,
‘unitarism’ and ‘radicalism’.
Identify the different analytical tools used in three approaches to the study of the employment relationship—namely, ‘neoinstitutionalism’, ‘human resource management’ and
‘labour process’.
Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to the study of the employment relationship.
Understand the approach to the study of industrial relations that is used in the rest of this book.
bray_Chapter 01
11/8/04
3:01 PM
Page 4
introduction
4
Everyone who derives an income through work or who becomes involved in the organisation and management of employees at work is immersed in the practice of industrial relations. The overall quality of the employment relationship and changes in industrial relations can have an important effect on the overall performance of an organisation. At the same time, the terms and conditions of employment directly affect the quality of employees’ working lives and their capacity to enjoy many aspects of their lives outside of work. These issues of ‘efficiency’ and ‘equity’—the contributions of industrial relations to the