This paper describes a participative work-scheduling system and some outcomes
from its employment in a heavy engineering workshop. Work groups that adopted
the system were compared with groups that employed more traditional practices
on a similar task. Those teams which employed theparticipativeschedulingpractices
experienced a substantialgrowth on some work responses, includingproductfvity.
The manifested and perceived differences were attributed to the higher levels
of co-ordination and interdependence that were demanded by the successful
employment of the work-scheduling system. The findings of this study also bring
under scrutiny the credibility of strategies currently beingpromoted for improving
productivity in the Australian workplace.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Acutt, B. (1990) Repetition strain injury (RSI): Legacy of technology in changing times or human resource management found wanting?Asia Pacific Human Resource Management, 28(2), 6-13.
2.
Australia Reconstructed: AGTU/TDC Mission to Western Europe (1987) Canberra: AGPS.
3.
Blandy, R. and Brummitt, W. (1990) Labour Productivity and Living Standards. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
4.
Blandy, R. (1991) The Australian labour market—Sept. 1991. Australian Bulletin of Labour, 17(3), 183-213.
5.
Brummitt, W. and Baker, M. (1991) The Australian labour market—March 1991. Australian Bulletin of Labour, 17(1), 3-25.
6.
Burgess, J. (1991) Manufacturing productivity, wages and industrial relations. Labour Economics and Productivity, 3(2), 102-15.
7.
CAI/AGTU: Joint Statement on Participative Practices (1988) Melbourne: Bradley Printers.
8.
Carmody, H. (1991) Multi-skilling: A discussion of proposed benefits of new approaches to labour flexibility within enterprises. Work andPeople, 14(1), 13-16.
9.
Cordery, J.L. (1989) Multi-skilling: A discussion of proposed benefits of new approaches to labour flexibility within enterprises. Personnel Review, 18(3), 13-22.
10.
Cronbach, LJ (1951) Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16(3), 297-333.
11.
Curtain, R. (1988) Skill formation in manufacturing: Obstacles and opportunities. Human Resource Management Australia, 26(4), 7-21.
12.
Daft, R. (1989) Organization Theory and Design (3rd edn). St Paul, MN: West Publishing Co.
13.
Davids, K. and Martin, R. (1990) Shopfloor rebellions. Industrial Society Magaxine, March, 26-7.
14.
Dawson, P. (1991a) Lost managers or industrial dinosaurs? A re-appraisal of front-line management. Australian Journal of Management , 16(1), 35-48.
15.
Dawson, P. (1991b) The historical emergence and changing role of the industrial supervisor. Asia Pacific Human Resource Management , 29(2), 36-50.
16.
Dunoon, D. (1990) Reform in the workplace. Directions in Government, April, 31-3.
17.
Financial Review (1991) 6 Feb.: 14.
18.
Fisher, TJ (1990) Quality management and productivity—A preliminary study. AustralianJournal of Managernent, 15(1), 107-27.
19.
Ford, G.W. (1987) Under-skilled Australia. Australian Journal of TAFE Research andDevelopment, 2(2), 1-10.
20.
Frenkel, S.J. (1988) Change, Efficiency and Equity in Two State Railway Workshops. Canberra: AGPS.
21.
Greller, M.M. and Herold, D.M. (1975) Sources of feedback: A preliminary investigation . Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 13(2), 244-56.
22.
Hackman, J.R. and Oldham, G.R. (1975) Development of the job diagnostic survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 60(2), 159-70.
23.
Henshaw, B. (1990) Rationalization of Westrail Midland Workshops. Perth.
24.
Moon, O. (1991) Future roles of human resource specialists and managers: The task ahead. Asia Pacific Human Resource Management , 29(1), 121-30.
25.
Rimmer, M. (1990) Industrial relations in 1990. Asia Pacific Human Resource Management, 29(1), 6-15.
26.
Rizzo, J.R., House, RJ and Lirtzman, S.I. (1970) Role conflict and ambiguity in complex organizations . Administrative Science Quarterly,15, 150-63.
27.
SAS User's Guide (1985) Cary NC: SAS Institute Inc.
28.
Senker, P. and Simmonds, P. (1991) Changing technology and design work in the British engineering industry, 1981-1988. New Technology, Work and Employment, 6(2), 91-9.
29.
Van deVen, A.H., Delbecq, A.L. and Koenig, R. (1976) Determinants of coordination modes within organizations . American Sociological Review, 41, 322-38.
30.
Vroom, V.H. (1960) Some Personality Determinants of the Effects of Participation. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
31.
Walsh, J. (1991) Restructuring, productivity and workplace relations: Evidence from the textile industry. New Technology, Work and Employment, 6(2), 124-37.
32.
West Australian (1990) Workers lose faith in bosses. 22 Oct.: 37.
33.
WestAustralian (1992a) Work crisis fuels attack on migrants. 17 Jan.: 7.
34.
West Australian (1992b) Productivity in Australia 'abysmal'. 12 Feb.: 15.
35.
Woodward, J. (1965) Industrial Organization: Theory and Practice. London: Oxford University Press.
