|
 Academic Year: |
2014/5 |
| Owning Department/School: |
Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits: |
6 |
| Level: |
Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
Semester 2 |
| Assessment Summary: |
ES 70%, OR 30% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites: |
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| Description: |
Aims: The aims of the unit are to: i. provide students with a critical understanding of theoretical and empirical issues of industrial relations in a comparative and historical perspective. ii. reflect critically on the main transformations in industrial relations in advanced capitalist countries and in different historical periods as a result of wider processes of economic, political and social transformation iii. developed a comparative skill looking for similarities as well as differences in the case studies iv. promote participation and the involvement of students in a deeper awareness of their own approaches to the issues addressed during the course, in order to see themselves as a part of the intellectual and institutional developments they are studying and not simply observers of processes that do not directly affect them. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course the students should be able to i. identify the major transformations in the relations between unions, employers and the state in different capitalist countries ii. find similarities as well as differences in structure, modes of action, bargaining systems, ideologies iii. assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in focusing particularly on relations between unions, employers and the state iv. grasp the political and economic transformations which led to major changes in industrial relations in the countries under examination v. critically assess the major approaches and debates which aimed to grasp the transformation of industrial relations in those countries, in their historical context of production. Skills: Intellectual skills: * To think creatively and analytically * To communicate an argument. * To evaluate others' arguments and research * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information. * To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge * To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding. Transferable/Key skills: * Inter-personal and communication skills * Essay research, preparation and writing skills * To construct a bibliography of varying complexity * Presentation skills and verbal communication (i.e. oral presentations, seminar and tutorial contributions) Knowledge outcomes : Soc/HRM * Theoretical basis of sociological perspectives * Knowledge of the current developments in practice and research in a European and world context. Content: This course examines theoretical and empirical issues of industrial relations in a comparative and historical context. It will search for similarities as well as differences in structure, modes of action, bargaining systems, ideologies in 6 different countries (mostly form Europe but also from Latin America and Eastern Europe). The course will focus on four periods: 1. the 'post-war' settlement' - the set of institutions and relations that was consolidated in all countries in the years immediately following World War II 2. the long boom associated with 'the golden age of capitalism' and which culminated (especially in Europe) in a major wave of industrial militancy and conflict in the years 1968-74 3. the period post-1974 when economic problems, the return of mass unemployment and in a number of countries governments overtly hostile to trade unions have created 'lean times' for unions in many countries. 4. The present time associated to globalisation and the post-modern and post-fordist era. |
| Programme availability: |
SP30055 is Optional on the following programmes:School of Management
SP30055 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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