Talking About Organizations Podcast

We conclude our discussion of Lupton’s "On the Shop Floor" by looking at both the importance of the study as a classic example of ethnography and the benefits of participant-observation, followed by the application of Lupton’s findings in the modern post-pandemic workplace. To what extent do contemporary concerns such as the “great resignation” or “quiet quitting” echo Lupton’s findings, and what are possible implications for today’s workers and managers?

This month, we discuss examine Lupton’s famous study of worker-management relations, On the Shop Floor: Two Studies of Workshop Organization and Output published in 1963. Tom Lupton spent 12 months as a factor worker in two different settings examining why workers intentionally worked at a level below management expectations. He found that social structures formed that protected workers from overuse or abuse by management and ensured a stable pay. These structures discouraged workers from working too hard or not hard enough. In Part 1, we will examine the cases in depth and present Lupton’s findings.

We will examine Lupton’s famous study of worker-management relations, On the Shop Floor: Two Studies of Workshop Organization and Output published in 1963. This significantly overlooked study examined social structures in the workplace that kept production levels below that expected by management and why they were permitted. His findings may provide some insights into similar challenges in the contemporary workplace.

We conclude our discussion of Jean Lave & Etienne Wenger’s "Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation," focusing on what occurred since the book’s publication. While communities of practice and their development and management have fueled active conversations, this was not necessary the intended direction of the book. In fact, the book raised more questions about situated learning than it answered. What does that mean for contemporary scholars, especially as new remote modes of learning are becoming more commonplace?

This month, we discuss Jean Lave & Etienne Wenger’s Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation, published in 1991. This short but powerful book presents a new way of thinking about adult learning as a social activity in which experienced members of a group or community of practice share their knowledge with new members to perpetuate the group identity. They present five case studies – one by Lave herself with four from other researchers – to help broaden the perspective of how situated learning works social involvement in which newer members are initiated through the exercise of low-risk or controlled tasks. In Part 1, we present the book and the case studies to examine how the theory emerged inductively.

We will examine Lave & Wenger’s (1991) renowned book "Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation" that developed a novel theory of learning. This short but powerful book presents a new way of thinking about adult learning as a social activity in which experienced members of a group share their knowledge with new members to perpetuate the group identity. It became the foundation for the rich development of literature on communities of practice!

We conclude our presentation of this year’s professional development workshop (PDW) on key approaches to the study of work with a panel discussion. Presenters Steve Barley, Gina Dokko, Ingrid Erickson, and Davide Nicolini answer some challenging questions about work, its management, and related social issues. This PDW was held at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management in Seattle, Washington in the U.S.

We continue with two more presentations from this year’s professional development workshop (PDW) on key approaches to the study of work. Ingrid Erickson presents on the Computer Supported Collaborative Work tradition, and Davide Nicolini discusses the Tavistock Institute and associated socio-technical systems tradition. This PDW was held at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management in Seattle, Washington in the U.S.

This year’s professional development workshop (PDW) on Classics of Organization and Management Theory explored key approaches to the study of work and was held at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management in Seattle, Washington in the U.S. It represents the fourth edition of a standing series showcasing the enduring relevance of early organizational research. Part 1 covers the first two presentations by Steve Barley on the work of the Chicago School tradition of study on work and occupations, and Gina Dokko on traditions of research into employment and careers.

We will present a recording of the presentations and panel discussion of a professional development workshop (PDW) on approaches to the study of work. This was held at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management in Seattle, Washington in the U.S.