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Increasing flexibility on the job? Current analyses from the sociology of work

Course Units (new window)

Instructor:

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Winker

Course Format:

2 hours Seminar

Period:

Winter Semester

Language:

German

Recommended Previous Knowledge:

none

Contents:

For several years, work has been subject to a varied and fundamental process of change, characterised by the breakdown of established structures and regulations. This blurring of boundaries has been much discussed, understood as the social processes of differentiation of forms and content of work, working times and places. At the same time, there is an increasing use of information and communication technologies, which make these processes of change even more complex and dynamic.
The seminar will present recent findings from labour research. Subjects include the “entreployee” thesis (Voß/Pongratz), the flexibilisation, blurring of boundaries, subjectification and increasingly precarious nature of work, the significance of new technologies in working life, working conditions in the New Economy, reconciliation of work and family life.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Knowledge of new explanations for current changes in society and business from the sociology of work

Reading Resources:

  • Deutschmann, Christoph: Postindustrielle Industriesoziologie. Theoretische Grundlagen, Arbeitsverhältnisse und soziale Identitäten. Weinheim, München, 2002
  • Mikl-Horke, Gertraude: Industrie- und Arbeitssoziologie. 5., vollst. neubearbeitete Aufl., München, Wien, 2000
  • Minssen, Heiner: Arbeits- und Industriessoziologie. Eine Einführung. Franfurt, New York, 2006
  • Voß, G. Günter; Pongratz, Hans J.: Der Arbeitskraftunternehmer. Eine neue Grundform der "Ware Arbeitskraft"? In: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, Hg. 50, H. 1, S. 131-158

Performance Record:

  • Active Participation
  • Preparation by intensive reading of theoretical social science texts
  • Presentation and discussion of the results

Workload:

60 hours total

Further Information:

http://www.tu-harburg.de/agentec

Contact:

winker@tu-harburg.de

Credit points of this module can be found in the course plan for the corresponding course of study.

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