Introduction

Abstract

The changing nature of work, technology, and the division of labor in the last quarter of the twentieth century has been a central preoccupation of scholarship on organizations. Debate has centered on the extent to which a fundamental shift in employment systems has occurred — from Fordist to post-Fordist models. The accumulated body of survey research over the last twenty years provides ample evidence that fundamental changes have occurred in employment systems. This article gives some examples to illustrate the complexities of interpreting the extent and nature of change in the organization of work and labor markets.