The puzzle of work: autonomy and commitment plus discipline and insecurity

Working paper

Accounts of recent developments of work organization in the UK are often organized around 'optimistic' (improving levels of skills and training, and better communication at the workplace) and 'pessimistic' (increased levels of effort and stress, work intensification, a 'representation gap') scenarios. Not surprisingly, research fails to support either of these extreme views. But it is not satisfactory to conclude that the picture is mixed and messy. It is also necessary to address the relatio...

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Authors: Edwards, P

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: ESRC Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE) Publisher's website
• Series: SKOPE Research Paper
• Place of publication: http://www.skope.ox.ac.uk/publications
• Publication date: 2001-01-01
• ISSN: 1466-1535
• Paper number: 16, Summer 2001
• Language: English
• Keywords: stress; autonomy; control; performance management; representation; job security; skills
• Subjects: Business and Management; Employment; Education