Social Theory at Work

Work is fundamental to human society and modern organizations, and consequently has been central to the thinking of major social theorists and social science disciplines. This book offers a 'one-stop-shop' guide to classical and contemporary perspectvies of work written by leading international experts. Schools covered include: Weberian, Marxian, Durkheimian, feminist, neo-classical economics, institutional economics, ethics, Foucauldian, postmodernist, organizational sociology and economic sociology. Each chapter traces the origins of the theoretical school, reviews seminal contributions,and considers major criticisms of the approach. In addition, the book features a section on key aspects of work - professions, technology, identity and globalisation - to which these theories have been applied. The book makes a major contribution in a number of ways: DT Provides systematic coverage of major social and economic theories and the way they aid our understanding of work; DT Includes a section of chapters that consider, in an applied way, how social theories have helped the analysis of key substantive areas of work; DT Includes contributions from leading academics from both Europe and the USA; DT Each chapter can be read as free-standing summary of a particular school of theoretical approach; DT In addition, the introductory and concluding chapters examine themes cross-cutting the other chapters in the book. It is an essential text for academics and advanced students concerned with the sociology of work, management, and organization studies. Contributors to this volume - James Barker, , Professor of Organizational Theory and Strategy, Department of Management, U.S. Air Force Academy Jacques Belangerm Professor of Industrial Relations, Universite Laval Nicole Biggart, Jerome J. and Elsie Suran Chair in Technology Management and Professor of Management and Sociology, Graduate School of Management, University of California, Davis Gibson Burrell, Professor of Organization Theory and Head of the Management Centre, Universtiy of Leicester Peter Cappelli, George W. Taylor Professor of Management and Director, Center for Human Resources, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Paul Edwards, Professor of Industrial Relations, University of Warwick Steve Frenkel, Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Industrial Relations, Australian Graduate School of Management Heidi Gottfried, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Sociology, Wayne State University Didier Guillot, Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour, INSEAD Heather Haveman, Professor of Management, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University Geoffrey Hodgson, Research Professor in Business Studies, University of Hertfordshire Randy Hodson, Professor of Sociology, Ohio State University Richard Hyman, Professor of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science Marek Korczynski, Reader in Employment Relations, Loughborough University Karen Legge, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick Robin Leidner, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania James Lincoln, Warren E. and Carol Spieker Professor of Leadership, University of California, Berekeley Keith Macdonald, Department of Scoiology, University of Surrey Steve Machin, Professor of Economics, University College London, and Director of the Centre for the Economics of Education and Research Director at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics and Political Science Graham Sewell, Associate Professor, Department of Management, University of Melbourne