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INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS RELATIONS PERSPECTIVESPERSPECTIVES

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Concepts to be covered:

o Perspectives of IRPerspectives of IRo Differences between these perspectivesDifferences between these perspectives

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• Unitary Perspective Unitary Perspective

• Pluralistic-Perspective Pluralistic-Perspective

• Marxist PerspectiveMarxist Perspective

UNITARY PLURALISTIC RADICAL

OutputInput Conversion

SOCIAL ACTION

SYSTEMS

REGULATIONS (RULES)

INSTITUTIONS/PROCESSESCONFLICT

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Unitary PerspectiveUnitary Perspective

• The organization is perceived as an integrated and The organization is perceived as an integrated and harmonious system, viewed as one happy family harmonious system, viewed as one happy family

• Organization should be an integrated group of people Organization should be an integrated group of people with a single authority/loyalty structure.with a single authority/loyalty structure.

• Set of common values, interests and objectives shared Set of common values, interests and objectives shared by all members.by all members.

• Found predominantly among managers- Management Found predominantly among managers- Management Ideology. Ideology.

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Two Important implications-Two Important implications-

• Conflict is perceived irrational.Conflict is perceived irrational.

• Trade unions are regarded as intrusionsTrade unions are regarded as intrusions

Management’s prerogative is regarded as Management’s prerogative is regarded as legitimatelegitimate..

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Pluralistic-Perspective Pluralistic-Perspective • The organization is perceived as being made up of powerful The organization is perceived as being made up of powerful

and divergent sub-groups - management and trade unions. and divergent sub-groups - management and trade unions.

• Conflicts of interest and disagreements between managers Conflicts of interest and disagreements between managers and workers are normal and inescapable. and workers are normal and inescapable.

• Trade unions are deemed as legitimate representatives of Trade unions are deemed as legitimate representatives of employees. employees.

• The firm should have industrial relations and personnel The firm should have industrial relations and personnel specialists who advise managers and provide specialist specialists who advise managers and provide specialist services. services.

• Independent external arbitrators should be used to assist in the Independent external arbitrators should be used to assist in the resolution of disputes.resolution of disputes.

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Radical Marxist PerspectiveRadical Marxist Perspective• Weakness and contradiction inherent in the capitalist Weakness and contradiction inherent in the capitalist

system would result in revolution and the ascendancy system would result in revolution and the ascendancy of socialism over capitalism.of socialism over capitalism.

• Capitalism would foster monopolies.Capitalism would foster monopolies.

• Class conflict is the source of societal change.Class conflict is the source of societal change.

• Class conflict arises from the disparity in distribution of Class conflict arises from the disparity in distribution of economic power.economic power.

• The nature of social and political institutions is derived The nature of social and political institutions is derived from this economic disparity.from this economic disparity.

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Pros.

BasisUnitary Pluraistic Marxist

Assumption Integrated Integrated group of people, group of people, common valuescommon values

Different values, Different values, interest and interest and objectivesobjectives

Division Division between labour between labour & capital, & capital, Inequalities in Inequalities in societysociety

Nature of conflict

Single authority Single authority and loyalty and loyalty structurestructure

Competitive Competitive authority & authority & loyalty structureloyalty structure

Inherent in Inherent in economic & economic & social systemssocial systems

Resolution of conflict

CoercionCoercion Compromise & Compromise & AgreementAgreement

Change Society

Role of Trade Union

Intrusion from Intrusion from outsideoutside

Legitimate Employee Employee response to response to capitalismcapitalism