Studying at York
The Changing Nature of Work - MAN00076M
Module summary
This module explores why conflict can emerge from paid work/society. More specifically it examines the impact of gender, class, and contractual relationships on workers and organisation.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2021-22 |
| B | Spring Term 2021-22 |
Module aims
This module explores why conflict can emerge from paid work/society. More specifically it examines the impact of gender, class, and contractual relationships on workers and organisation. It then explains why this relationship is partially regulated by external forces such as unions and the State and its regulation at the organisational level.
Module learning outcomes
The structure of work I (occupations and the social division of labour, changing division labour, sexual division of labour, post-industrialism, etc)
The structure of work 11 (organisations: bureaucracy, Taylorism, Fordism, limits of bureaucracy, contingency thinking, labour process, micropolitics, organisational enviroments etc)
Skills (occupational structuring, occupational culture, work re-design, careers etc)
The meaning of work (identity, class, emotional labour etc)
The employment relationship (unitarism, pluralism, conflict approaches
The parties to industrial relations (unions, State, employers)
IR processes 1 (donovan commission, collective bargaining, grievance procedure, disciplinary procedure, tribunals, citizens advice etc)
IR processes 2 (forms of voice, regulation of voice, outcomes, missing voices etc)
Industrial conflict (strikes, go-slows, work-to-rule, reasons for conflict, changing extent of conflict/statistics, explaining change etc)
Conflict resolution (ACAS, training, listening, negotiation skills etc)
Academic and graduate skills
By the end of this module students should be able to:-
Understand how societal norms have helped shape the workplace
Understand how the different interests of parties can undermine contractual expectations
Understand the economic, organisational, and socio-psychological mechanisms that can lead to workplace conflict
Recognise the role of State legislation, trades unions, and organisational procedure in mediating these differing interests
Assessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework 3000 word essay |
N/A | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Reassessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework 3000 word essay |
N/A | 100 |
Module feedback
Students receive individual written feedback on each item of coursework within five weeks of submission. A comprehensive module assessment report is released to students after the summer term exam board.
Indicative reading
- Grint (2005) ‘The Sociology of Work’
- Dundan & Rollinson (2011) ‘Understanding Employment Relations’