A Norwegian Strategy for Democratization of Industry

Abstract

The paper describes certain parts of "The Industrial Democracy Program, " (IDP), an action research project which was started in Norwegian industry in 1962 with the joint sponsorship of the Norwegian Trade Union Confederation and the Confederation of Employers. Although the emphasis is on the practical application of a strategy for social change, some background information and description of the content of this program is also given. Under the assumption that changes in the concrete work situation might be the key to a process whereby employees could improve their conditions for taking part in decisions, a series of experiments have been staged in companies representing different technologies. Some results from the program are discussed. One conclusion is that it is possible within existing companies and under the existing economic system to make changes in work organization, job design, etc., so that workers experience a more meaningful and rewarding situation, become more committed to their work, and take a more extensive part in decision-making. Under certain conditions, as demonstrated in a number of cases, this leads to developments through which employees' influence in the organization increases considerably beyond the immediate daily shop-floor matters. Some of the conditions for such development are discussed. As a central conclusion stands the assumption that lack of a general breakthrough for IDP ideas in Norway is due to the combined effect of company and trade union bureaucracy. The social-science-based program which aimed at conveying a strategy for direct participation and the debureaucratization of organizations thus has contributed to strengthening the bureaucracies that have been under attack. This is because some of the central ideas which have been strongly promoted through the project have been picked up by the establishment and made the subject for legislation and bureaucratic control.