SOCI 205 1st Edition Lecture 26Outline of Last Lecture II. Sociology of WorkIII. Reading Discussion - LindnerOutline of Current LectureII. Sociology of Work Cont.Current LectureII. Sociology of Work Cont. a. The Japanese Model Cont.i. Plankey-Videla1. Studies Moctezuma, Inc.2. Italian (1954)3. Mexican group bought the company in 1993. 4. Moctezuma before Japanese style production (Piece-work)a. Assembly linei. Repetitive, low skill (Braverman), management (monitor and controls), quantity over qualityb. Garment industryi. Workers paid by piece (piece-work)ii. Bonus: self-exploit (surpass the given targets and earn a bonus)iii. Stopping production was frowned upon by managementiv. Buffer: raw materialsv. Aka “Taylorism”c. Why change to Japanese style approach? i. Opportunities of upgradingii. Trade agreements: NAFTAiii. Global economic changes: buyers (Wal-Mart, CalvinKlein) demanded Japandese-style productioniv. Improves lives of workers (decrease turnover)d. The Japanese Model at Moctezumai. Teamwork (vs. working alone)ii. Bonuses: given by teamThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.1. Peer pressure prevented shirking (disloyaltyto firm now means disloyalty to teammates)iii. What do managers do?1. Under teamwork, managers perform less surveillance and control: Teams are relatively autonomous from managementiv. Wage: “high” at $40/week vs. $25/weeke. Life time Employment at Moctezumai. Good Wagesii. Extensive benefits (long list)1. Objective: create a family (i.e. encourage workers to identify with firm and firm’s objectives2. Benefits help establish trustf. Japanese Model at Moctezuma – Outcomei. Began in 1996, mostly completed in 1997, and thenemployees go on strike in 2001 – why?1. Shop floor a. Teamwork experiences as surveillance and controli. Teammates monitor each otherb. Team members performed quality control2. Strike a. Workers used teamwork structure toorganizei. Autonomy to call meetingsii. Team leaders coordinate other teamsiii. Teams guarded the factoryiv. Company IDs to sanction workers3. Result of Strikea. Negative: company closed; workers blacklistedb. Positive: workers empoweredg. Conclusioni. Unintended Condequences of Teamwork1. Teamwork experienced as surveillance and control (management did not intend or anticipate this)ii. Management1. Sought to increase worker loyalty2. But violating trust fueled opposition effortsIII. Reading Discussion – Thompsona. Why did workers accept and stay at a “dirty job”, such as the assembly line? What is the financial trap of high pay/low status jobs?b. The author observed “uncooperative teamwork”, which is….c. How did workers cope with a dangerous and dirty
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