Information Society, Work and the Generation of New Forms of Social Exclusion (SOWING): National Report (Portugal)

Moniz, António and Gomes, Cláudia and Machado, Tiago and Urze, Paula (2001): Information Society, Work and the Generation of New Forms of Social Exclusion (SOWING): National Report (Portugal). Published in: SOWING Reports No. PT case studies (January 2001): pp. 1-69.

Abstract

The choice over the Portuguese case studies was based on the sample constructed for the application of the firm questionnaires, during the second year of the SOWING project, 1999. This sample was fulfilled of firms among several activity sectors: textile, manufacturing, electronics, transports and software industry, based on NACE – codes (2 – digit level). Thus, we agreed to include in a new database the remaining questionnaires and construct a sample with 113 observations. Concerning the organisational change we make a distinction of three categories of change. First we analyse changes taking place at the inter-firm level (outsourcing, subcontracting, geographic relocation), followed by changes at the organisational level (deconcentration/decentralisation, reduction of hierarchical levels, introduction of cost and profit centres). The third kind of changes analysed will be those taking place at the workplace level (job enlargement/enrichment, changing character of work, work load). The Portuguese studied companies presents a relative uniform pattern considering the variables social competencies, practical knowledge, responsibility and specialized professional qualifications.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: industry; information technologies; qualification; organisation; work
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J2 - Demand and Supply of Labor > J21 - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure; L - Industrial Organization > L6 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences ; Diffusion Processes; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A14 - Sociology of Economics

References

Gomes, C.T., Globalisation and the emergence of the information society: reflex at the metallomechanics organisational change, Master Thesis (Final Draft), October 2000, Lisbon, ISEG. INE, Cenários Demográficos 1995-2020, Instituto Nacional de Estatística, Lisboa, 1995. INE, Painel de Empresas 1995 – 1996, Lisboa, Instituto Nacional de Estatística, 1998.