Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Volvo for life? : An Investigation into Identity Work at Volvo Cars Torslanda

Schaefer, Stephan LU ; Huzzard, Tony LU and Sommereng, Iselin (2009) International Labour Process Conference, 2009
Abstract
Our paper aims at making two contributions surrounding the broad discussion of subjectivity in Labour Process Theory (LPT). The first contribution is the proposition of a theoretical model to facilitate the understanding of the processes underpinning the construction of shop floor workers´ self-identities based on discursive managerial regulation. Additionally, the findings of the study are used to make a contribution to the general discussion surrounding the “missing subject” in LPT (Thompson, 1990). The study was conducted at a large car manufacturing plant located in Sweden. Drawing on the identity regulation model proposed by Alvesson and Willmott (2002) we unpack the notion of self-identity at the workplace along two dimensions,... (More)
Our paper aims at making two contributions surrounding the broad discussion of subjectivity in Labour Process Theory (LPT). The first contribution is the proposition of a theoretical model to facilitate the understanding of the processes underpinning the construction of shop floor workers´ self-identities based on discursive managerial regulation. Additionally, the findings of the study are used to make a contribution to the general discussion surrounding the “missing subject” in LPT (Thompson, 1990). The study was conducted at a large car manufacturing plant located in Sweden. Drawing on the identity regulation model proposed by Alvesson and Willmott (2002) we unpack the notion of self-identity at the workplace along two dimensions, organisational affiliation and the locus of control. Our findings neither lend support to the voluntarist nor the determinist position of LPT. It seems that there is the equivocal notion of a juxtaposition of the orthodox and the subjectivist view on the labour process consolidated in just one dimension of identity work namely the locus of control. This observation leads to the claim that the “missing subject” in the labour process is given the role of a medium which ultimately assigns the features to the labour process by engaging in identity work. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
pages
19 pages
conference name
International Labour Process Conference, 2009
conference location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
conference dates
2009-04-06 - 2009-04-08
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8f2ccc7f-d01f-43e7-8c2c-968f7d810c82
alternative location
http://www.ilpc.org.uk/PreviousConferences/ILPC2009/ILPC2009Papers.aspx
date added to LUP
2017-04-24 17:35:12
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:31:34
@misc{8f2ccc7f-d01f-43e7-8c2c-968f7d810c82,
  abstract     = {{Our paper aims at making two contributions surrounding the broad discussion of subjectivity in Labour Process Theory (LPT). The first contribution is the proposition of a theoretical model to facilitate the understanding of the processes underpinning the construction of shop floor workers´ self-identities based on discursive managerial regulation. Additionally, the findings of the study are used to make a contribution to the general discussion surrounding the “missing subject” in LPT (Thompson, 1990). The study was conducted at a large car manufacturing plant located in Sweden. Drawing on the identity regulation model proposed by Alvesson and Willmott (2002) we unpack the notion of self-identity at the workplace along two dimensions, organisational affiliation and the locus of control. Our findings neither lend support to the voluntarist nor the determinist position of LPT. It seems that there is the equivocal notion of a juxtaposition of the orthodox and the subjectivist view on the labour process consolidated in just one dimension of identity work namely the locus of control. This observation leads to the claim that the “missing subject” in the labour process is given the role of a medium which ultimately assigns the features to the labour process by engaging in identity work.}},
  author       = {{Schaefer, Stephan and Huzzard, Tony and Sommereng, Iselin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Volvo for life? : An Investigation into Identity Work at Volvo Cars Torslanda}},
  url          = {{http://www.ilpc.org.uk/PreviousConferences/ILPC2009/ILPC2009Papers.aspx}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}