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Layers of Dissent : The Meaning of Time Appropriation

Paulsen, Roland LU (2011) In Outlines - Critical Practice Studies 13(1). p.53-81
Abstract
Within Critical Management Theory as well as Critical Theory the possibility of individuals resisting taken for granted power asymmetries remains a highly debated subject. Intensified corporate culture programs seem to imply that within the sphere of labor, worker dissent is loosing ground. Based on a large interview material of critical cases, this notion is challenged. The interviewees mainly represent white-collar employees who spend more than half of their working hours on private activities. Studying the objectives and political ambitions behind their extensive recalcitrance reveals a range of intentional structures that result in the same activity: time appropriation. First, time appropriation may be the effect of framed dissent; a... (More)
Within Critical Management Theory as well as Critical Theory the possibility of individuals resisting taken for granted power asymmetries remains a highly debated subject. Intensified corporate culture programs seem to imply that within the sphere of labor, worker dissent is loosing ground. Based on a large interview material of critical cases, this notion is challenged. The interviewees mainly represent white-collar employees who spend more than half of their working hours on private activities. Studying the objectives and political ambitions behind their extensive recalcitrance reveals a range of intentional structures that result in the same activity: time appropriation. First, time appropriation may be the effect of framed dissent; a dissent intertwined with politically framed indignation. Second, the recalcitrance may spring from direct dissent in which personal indignation is the driving force whereas political formulations are not as prominent. Third, the activity of not doing your work while at work can be the effect of withdrawal in which case there is no motive other than avoiding work. Fourth, time appropriation may also be a (sometimes involuntary) consequence of adjustment: This occurs when the employee does not receive enough work assignments to fill the working day. I conclude by suggesting that the processes and leaps between these layers of dissent should be further studied.
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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
resistance, labor, work, critical theory
in
Outlines - Critical Practice Studies
volume
13
issue
1
pages
29 pages
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
3282c0d5-1e2b-4304-a48e-63d1a72ea305
alternative location
http://ojs.statsbiblioteket.dk/index.php/outlines/article/view/2938
date added to LUP
2016-10-01 21:33:41
date last changed
2019-01-14 07:38:05
@article{3282c0d5-1e2b-4304-a48e-63d1a72ea305,
  abstract     = {{Within Critical Management Theory as well as Critical Theory the possibility of individuals resisting taken for granted power asymmetries remains a highly debated subject. Intensified corporate culture programs seem to imply that within the sphere of labor, worker dissent is loosing ground. Based on a large interview material of critical cases, this notion is challenged. The interviewees mainly represent white-collar employees who spend more than half of their working hours on private activities. Studying the objectives and political ambitions behind their extensive recalcitrance reveals a range of intentional structures that result in the same activity: time appropriation. First, time appropriation may be the effect of framed dissent; a dissent intertwined with politically framed indignation. Second, the recalcitrance may spring from direct dissent in which personal indignation is the driving force whereas political formulations are not as prominent. Third, the activity of not doing your work while at work can be the effect of withdrawal in which case there is no motive other than avoiding work. Fourth, time appropriation may also be a (sometimes involuntary) consequence of adjustment: This occurs when the employee does not receive enough work assignments to fill the working day. I conclude by suggesting that the processes and leaps between these layers of dissent should be further studied.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Paulsen, Roland}},
  keywords     = {{resistance; labor; work; critical theory}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{53--81}},
  series       = {{Outlines - Critical Practice Studies}},
  title        = {{Layers of Dissent : The Meaning of Time Appropriation}},
  url          = {{http://ojs.statsbiblioteket.dk/index.php/outlines/article/view/2938}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}