A Case-Study Method for Teaching Industrial Sociology

Abstract

An exciting trend in the sociology of organizations is the revitalization of the discipline of industrial sociology. Instead of taking prevailing social arrangements in organizations for granted, the approach of the new industrial sociology is to investigate the origins of the division of labor and to treat as problematic the issues of legitimacy and motivation to work. The goal of the industrial sociology course discussed in this paper is to help students analyze the social origins of technology and structures of authority and how they operate to increase productivity and reproduce domination in society (Thompson 1983; Littler 1982; Burawoy 1979). The purpose of this paper is to suggest a case-study technique for teaching industrial sociology that stresses the evolution of the division of labor, or how people have come to perform different jobs. The division of labor is treated as a key to understanding both the macro system of social organization and such micro organizational issues as decision-making and work motivation. The remainder of the paper will review theoretical perspectives and methods of instruction for an introductory course in industrial sociology.