Commitment at Work and Independence From Management.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Bélanger, Jacques; Edwards, Paul K.; Wright, Martyn
- Source
- Work & Occupations. May2003, Vol. 30 Issue 2, p234-252. 19p. 2 Charts.
- Subject
- *TEAMS in the workplace
*ORGANIZATIONAL commitment
*EMPLOYEES
*SOLIDARITY
- Language
- ISSN
- 0730-8884
This article examines a case of advanced teamwork in a Canadian aluminum smelter. It demonstrates a pattern of high commitment at work and acceptance of change combined with a robust independence of workers from management. Control is no longer exerted at the level of work execution but is moved a step higher in the conception and monitoring of production, thus opening the way for workers' self-regulation. The explanation for this pattern lies in workers' tradition of group solidarity, which was expressed through a strong role for the trade union. Comparison with other cases underlies the centrality of worker collective organization if teamwork is to meet workers' as well as managers' expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]