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- Volume 7, Issue, 2002
Concepts and Transformation - Volume 7, Issue 1, 2002
Volume 7, Issue 1, 2002
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A case of slow learning?: Recent trends in social partnership in Norway with particular emphasis on workplace democracy
Author(s): Thoralf Ulrik Qvalepp.: 31–55 (25)More LessThe article outlines the continuous series of participative research and development projects and programs that have been run in Norwegian industry since 1962 in order to democratize work life and improve learning and the utilization of human resources. These efforts entered a new stage in 2000 through a national program for regional economic and industrial development in which ten applied research centers and associated networks of enterprises participate. The article discusses aspects of the strategy followed through the various generations of programs and attempts to explain why the country in general has been so slow in benefitting from the these programs. In spite of what formally seems to be positive cultural, political and administrative conditions for success, the social science-based, research-supported approach to work life development still has not reached critical mass nor given much international competitive advantage. The article concludes with a discussion of the likelihood for success with the current 10-year national change program.
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The “New Economy”: A new model for development coalitions?
Author(s): Klaus Dörre, Birgit Beese and Bernd Röttgerpp.: 57–71 (15)More LessThe article discusses industrial political activities conducted in regional networks by German trade unions. Referring to the example of Dortmund it is shown that the industrial political strategies of local trade union sections are currently at a watershed. On the one hand, trade unions prove capable of socially compensating for the consequences of a radical structural change. On the other hand, however, they have great difficulties in gaining a foothold in the newly emerging economic sectors. ‘Action research’ will help the trade unions to develop adequate strategies for the new economic sectors.
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Times of the city: New ways of involving citizens
Author(s): Ulrich Mückenberger and Jean-Yves Boulinpp.: 73–91 (19)More LessUrban time policies have to be regarded and embarked upon as a democratic and cross-sectional process. For such policies to become institutionalised requires citizens’ forums, model experiments and surveys within the community as well as interdisciplinary cooperation between the various branches of the local authority administration. The article has its focus first on Eurexcter — a European action-research project in five European countries which has been promoting practical experiments with local time policies — and secondly on an empirical survey concerning time policies in Europe conducted for the European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions/Dublin.
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Action research as theoretical practices
Author(s): Alexander Styhre, Kamilla Kohn and Mats Sundgrenpp.: 93–105 (13)More LessThe notion of theory is often discussed with great anxiety among organization and management theorists. Theory is often seen as being in opposition to practice which implies that theory may be outside of practical use. Against this view, this paper argues that what we call theoretical practices are key components of action research activities in organizations. Theoretical practices allow a contextual analysis of “thick” organizational practices and also allows an analysis of the multiple language games being used in organizations. Thus, theoretical practices should be examined as an important activity in insider/outsider action research activities.
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