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“Vi här nere” & “De där uppe” - En fallstudie om samspelet mellan Blue- och White-Collar inom en organisation

Åkesson, Pernilla LU and Boström, Elin LU (2026) SOCK20 20252
Department of Sociology
Abstract
In this study we have examined how blue- and white collar workers within the same automotive industrial organization interact and collaborate with each other. We have also analyzed what kinds of internal organizational aspects and external societal aspects that could affect the quality of the interaction and cross-functional collaboration. By using participant observation as our research method, we observed the workers in their natural workplace setting and thereby gained an understanding of how work structures, atmosphere, and attitudes are reflected in everyday work. The study shows that there are organizational and societal barriers affecting the possibility for the workers' interactions and collaboration. This appears through findings... (More)
In this study we have examined how blue- and white collar workers within the same automotive industrial organization interact and collaborate with each other. We have also analyzed what kinds of internal organizational aspects and external societal aspects that could affect the quality of the interaction and cross-functional collaboration. By using participant observation as our research method, we observed the workers in their natural workplace setting and thereby gained an understanding of how work structures, atmosphere, and attitudes are reflected in everyday work. The study shows that there are organizational and societal barriers affecting the possibility for the workers' interactions and collaboration. This appears through findings such as blue collars’ position of dependency towards white collar in existing authoritarian norms and also the noticeable difference between blue collar and white collar in their attitudes towards their own role compared to the other. In conclusion, the results show that there are known societal historical differences that keep reproducing within the organization when it comes to areas such as power, resources and social standards between blue- and white-collar workers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Åkesson, Pernilla LU and Boström, Elin LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOCK20 20252
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Blue collar, white collar, interaction, collaboration, power, authority, resources
language
Swedish
id
9219647
date added to LUP
2026-01-22 08:59:24
date last changed
2026-01-22 08:59:24
@misc{9219647,
  abstract     = {{In this study we have examined how blue- and white collar workers within the same automotive industrial organization interact and collaborate with each other. We have also analyzed what kinds of internal organizational aspects and external societal aspects that could affect the quality of the interaction and cross-functional collaboration. By using participant observation as our research method, we observed the workers in their natural workplace setting and thereby gained an understanding of how work structures, atmosphere, and attitudes are reflected in everyday work. The study shows that there are organizational and societal barriers affecting the possibility for the workers' interactions and collaboration. This appears through findings such as blue collars’ position of dependency towards white collar in existing authoritarian norms and also the noticeable difference between blue collar and white collar in their attitudes towards their own role compared to the other. In conclusion, the results show that there are known societal historical differences that keep reproducing within the organization when it comes to areas such as power, resources and social standards between blue- and white-collar workers.}},
  author       = {{Åkesson, Pernilla and Boström, Elin}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“Vi här nere” & “De där uppe” - En fallstudie om samspelet mellan Blue- och White-Collar inom en organisation}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}