Two Paths to Prosperity
Work Organisation and Industrial Relations Decentralisation in Australia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2376052 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Paul Boreham (0000-0001-9445-0974, Labour and Industry Research Unit, Department of the Government at the University of Queensland, Australia), Richard W Hall (0000-0002-3264-3217, Queensland Government), Richard Hall (0000-0001-7666-889X, Labour and Industry Research Unit in the Department of Government at the University of Queensland, Australia), Bill Harley (Labour and Industry Research Unit in the Department of Government at the University of Queensland, Australia) |
| Year | 1996 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 449-468 |
| Publication date | 1996-09-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Work Employment and Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0950-0170 • E-ISSN: 1469-8722 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0950017096103003 |
| OpenAlex | W2112586769, W4234134923 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 5 |
The shift of an industrial relations system from the centralised settlement of pay and work conditions to the encouragement of enterprise-level bargaining presents industrial relations actors with the opportunity to influence the organisation of work in one of two ways. Drawing on a range of theories of work organisation and production we contrast profitability enhancement strategies and productivity enhancement strategies. The recent dramatic shift in the Australian industrial relations system from a highly centralised and regulated regime towards one characterized by an enterprise focus provides an illuminating case study. Utilising data drawn from a survey of Australian workplaces which have recently concluded enterprise-level bargains, we examine the apparent effect of those agreements and assess the emerging trends in terms of the two contrasting strategic orientations. We conclude that while elements of each strategy are present in Australian industry, the dominant tendency is oriented more toward short-term profitability and cost minimization than long term productivity enhancement. Further, we use the findings as a basis for evaluating critically the utility of conceptualising paths of development in terms of two competing strategic orientations
Business · Decentralization · Economic geography · Economic growth · Economic system · Economics · Geography · Industrial organization · Management · Market economy · Political science · Productivity · Profitability index · Prosperity · Regional science · Settlement (finance · Sociology · Work (physics · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Employment and Welfare Studies · Engineering · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Finance · Industrial Relations · Mechanical Engineering
| Citations per year | 0.08 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2001 - 2001 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |