The assessment of work organization in lean production: the relevance of the worker’s perspective

Abstract

Argues that the way work organization in lean production environments is assessed depends heavily on the choice of the variables that are adopted to ascertain the degree of innovation in the workplace. Many studies evaluate the change in work organization observing only those elements which are functional for the just‐in‐time production principles while excluding crucial dimensions that characterize the working situation from the worker’s perspective. Moreover, besides the choice of the variables employed to ascertain the degree of innovation in work organization, the method adopted for measuring these variables would seem to be critical if one wishes to bring to light what is hidden behind the popular terms like team, empowerment, problem‐solving groups, quality circles, etc. Suggests that only a research approach which is able to give “thick descriptions” of workplaces can reveal the “reality of working” within lean production systems.