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Trust, Discretion and Responsibility: The Division of Technical Labour

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  • Patrick McGovern

    (Aston University)

Abstract

This paper examines the role which multinational corporation (MNC) branch plants play in the development and maintenance of the boundaries between technical occupations in the Irish Republic. In doing so, it examines recent attempts to characterise such workers as incumbents of `high-discretion high-trust' work roles and also as `trusted workers'. This paper argues that such attempts are lacking in explanatory power because they fail to account for other factors. In the Irish case, these include levels of qualification, the higher status of theoretical and abstract knowledge, the fusion of technical and managerial functions and the greater organisational importance of the more senior technical positions.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick McGovern, 1996. "Trust, Discretion and Responsibility: The Division of Technical Labour," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 10(1), pages 85-103, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:10:y:1996:i:1:p:85-103
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