Tuesday, April 19, 2011
[IWS] Dublin Foundation: IMPACT OF INTERFIRM RELATIONSHIPS: EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS [15 April 2011]
IWS Documented News Service
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Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions [Dublin Foundation]
Impact of interfirm relationships – employment and working conditions [15 April 2011]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef1101.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2011/01/en/1/EF1101EN.pdf
[full-text, 81 pages]
Author: | Hadjivassiliou, Kari P.; Cox, Annette; Martin, Rose; Marchington, Mick; Sheehan, Maura; Gloster, Rosie; Pollard, Emma; Grimshaw, Damian; Rubery, Jill |
Summary: | During recent decades, various new forms of interfirm relationships have been emerging across national contexts. This study seeks to fill a gap in the research carried out to date on the impact of these relationships on working conditions and employment practices, including human resources management policies. This report draws on 20 case studies and a review of literature to investigate the varied effects of five types of interfirm relationships on employment. These are joint ventures, clusters, public-private partnerships, strategic alliances/networks and virtual company networks. In the current economic climate, developing interfirm relationships is linked with company survival and competitiveness. An executive summary is also available. |
CONTENTS
Foreword v
Contents vii
Executive summary 1
1 – Background to study and methodological approach 5
Background 5
Overview of methodological approach 6
Case studies undertaken 7
Securing access to companies 8
List of case studies 8
2 – Theoretical framework: synopsis of literature review 11
Common types of interfirm relationships 11
Interfirm dynamics 14
HRM in the organisational relationship 16
Social and institutional context 19
Conclusion and hypothesis for case study approach 20
3 – Synthesis of case study findings 21
Structural characteristics of the analysed interfirm relationships 21
Impact on employment and working conditions 29
4 – Conclusions 51
Possibilities for learning and current limitations 55
Organisational size and patterns of relationships 56
Occupational and sectoral labour markets 56
Dynamics of power and trust 56
HRM alignment 58
Regulation 59
5 – Policy pointers 61
Bibliography 63
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Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
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