Industrial Sociology is a field of applied sociology, and has grown mainly out of interests in such issues as productivity, motivation, and unionization. In many cases, however, the theoretical relevance of the studies is evident, and often it is explicitly discussed by those who conducted the research. “Overcoming Resistance to Change,” 1 a frequently quoted study, is a case in point: while the problem studied is how to introduce frequent changes into the system of production in a pajama factory without reducing productivity, it is discussed from the point of view of its contributions to
Kurt Lewin’s field theory-2 The studies of Mayo, Roethlisberger. Whyte, Warner, and many others have a theoretical perspective. and are not predominantly focused on practical problems. The applied nature of industrial sociology is revealed not so much in a lack of theoretical implications of the various studies as in a lack of conceptual codification and of systematic delimitation of the field. The accumulation of studies in this area seems now to have reached the stage at which one may attempt to offer such a systematic delimitation and to spell out the main dimensions of the field.
Industrial sociology, or the sociology of work, examines “the direction and implications of trends in technological change, globalization, labour markets, work organization, managerial practices and employment relations to the extent to which these trends are intimately related to changing patterns of inequality in modern societies and to the changing experiences of individuals and families the ways in which workers challenge, resist and make their own contributions to the patterning of work and shaping of work institutions.”
Q.1. What do you mean by the term Industrial Sociology. (AKTU. 2012 - 13)
Related Question -
Q. What is Industrial sociology ? Briefly discuss its applications. (AKTU. 2012-13)
Related Question -
Q. What is Industrial sociology ? Briefly discuss its applications. (AKTU. 2012-13)
Ans. ‘Industrial Sociology’ comprises two terms, namely, industrial and sociology. The term ‘industrial’ concerning the industry and in industry anything is done efficiently and smoothly. Resourcefulness implies use of machinery, raw materials, etc., in an efficient manner. Sociology deals with the society and social relations. In sociology, all kinds of social relations are studied.
This means industrial sociology is the study of boss-subordinate, interdepartmental, and management / trade-union relationships and, on a macro sociological scale, the study of the impact of industrialization on whole societies.
“According to Miller and Form, “Industrial Sociology is a substantive area of general sociology which might more accurately be termed the sociology of work organizations or the sociology of economy”.
“According to Charles B. Spaulding, Industrial sociologists center their interests upon the social organizations of the work place, including the pattern of interaction between people who are responding to each other in terms of their roles in work organizations or whose behaviour is being affected by those roles.”
“According to D.C. Miller and W.H. Form, Industrial sociology is a substantive area of general sociology which might more accurately be termed the sociology of work organizations or the sociology of economy.”
“According to J.H. Smith Industrial sociology is concerned with industry (or any form of work organization) as a social system, including those factors (technical, economic, political) which affect the structure, the functions and the changes in that system.”
Applications Of Sociology: -
1. Sociologist are employed by national and international bodies to recommend programs, evaluate their progress and effects, gather data for planning and propose methods for initiating change.
2. Sociologists aid industry by obtaining data on clients and workers, i.e. social surveys, offering advice on personnel or public relations problems, providing labor unions with advice, helping communities undertake reform, counseling families, and donating or selling advice to consumer groups.
3. The principal employment of sociologists is in academic institutions.
4. Other employment possibilities that have opened in recent decades are Social welfare agenecies and government organisations of all types - from bureaus dealing with population, budgets and education to departments concentrating on crime, agriculture, and health matters - have tapped sociologists for help in research, planning and administration.
5. Other directions of sociological activity include the role of consultant, social critic, social activist etc.
Applications Of Sociology: -
1. Sociologist are employed by national and international bodies to recommend programs, evaluate their progress and effects, gather data for planning and propose methods for initiating change.
2. Sociologists aid industry by obtaining data on clients and workers, i.e. social surveys, offering advice on personnel or public relations problems, providing labor unions with advice, helping communities undertake reform, counseling families, and donating or selling advice to consumer groups.
3. The principal employment of sociologists is in academic institutions.
4. Other employment possibilities that have opened in recent decades are Social welfare agenecies and government organisations of all types - from bureaus dealing with population, budgets and education to departments concentrating on crime, agriculture, and health matters - have tapped sociologists for help in research, planning and administration.
5. Other directions of sociological activity include the role of consultant, social critic, social activist etc.
Q.2. Describe briefly the scope of Industrial Sociology.
Related Questions -
Q. Explain the scope of industrial sociology. (AKTU. 2010 - 11)
Q. What is the nature and scope of industrial sociology. (AKTU. 2011 - 12)
Ans. In industrial sociology we study the organization, structure, functions and implicit social relationships of industrial and economic system.
According to Amitai Etzioni, “The scope of industrial sociology includes the study of those economic organizations which have the primary aim of producing goods and services, exchanging them, or organizing and manipulating monetary processes.”
According to Moore, “Industrial sociology is concerned with the application or development of principles of, sociology relevant to the industrial mode of production and the industrial way of life.
‘Burns has classified the industrial sociology as follows:
(i) Bureaucracy, (ii) Study of functions, (iii) Study of functional groups, (iv) Analysis of industrial relationships, (v) Influence of industrialization on the individual. According to Miller and Form, the subject-matter of industrial. sociology includes work group and interpersonal relationships in it, the role of work groups, the study of machines and instruments in social organisation. Most of American industrial sociologists have adhered to this subject-matter industrial sociology.
According to C. B. Spaulding, the subject-matter of industrial sociology is industry, industrial organisation, factories, godowns, sale purchase centers, administration and the social relationships of the individuals involved in all these activities. Industrial sociology studies interrelated actions, interactions, methods and processes.
