2. Continuity and Change in the Programme of the Industrial Relations Research Unit
| Pages | 7-14 |
| Published date | 01 May 1986 |
| Date | 01 May 1986 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb055079 |
| Author | Keith Sisson |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
2.
Continuity and Change
in the Programme
of the Industrial Relations
Research Unit
by Keith Sisson*
Introduction
The past couple of years have seen very considerable changes in the organisation of the
Industrial Relations Research Unit (IRRU)as well as its personnel. The unit was estab-
lished at the University of Warwick by the Social Science Research Council (now the
Economic and Social Research Council) in
1970 in
order to undertake research of
a
large-
scale and long-term multi-disciplinary character. In 1984, the unit ceased to be run dir-
ectly by the ESRC and, although it has retained the name and receives the bulk of its
funding from it, became
a
Designated Research Centre (DRC) for which the University
of Warwick is responsible. In view of the close links which had existed since the unit's
inception between its researchers and the teachers in the School of Industrial and Bus-
iness Studies — the first Director of the Unit, Hugh Clegg, was also Professor of
Industrial Relations in the School, several members of the teaching staff had carried out
research projects in the unit and research staff were involved in the school's teaching
programmes — the unit was located in the school and membership extended to the
teaching
staff.
In short, the unit now comprises members of the DRC and of the industrial relations
teaching staff of the school, and it is with research in the "new" unit that the present
article is concerned. The first section gives an overview of the main research projects
being undertaken during the first phase of the eight-year term of the DRC
and
the second
discusses some of the thinking that lies behind them. The third and final part concludes
with some comments about the more general prospects for industrial relations research.
An Overview of
IRRU
Research
Throughout its existence, the unit has attempted to explore industrial relations issues
through theoretically informed empirical enquiries. It has sought to use the results of its
research to develop the understanding of industrial relations and can claim to have made
significant contributions in such areas as union membership and organisation, shop
steward behaviour and workplace bargaining, the structure and process of collective
bargaining, pay determination, industrial conflict and the role of law in industrial
relations.
*Acknowledgements:
I
am grateful for the helpful comments of
a
number of colleagues, and especially
Linda Dickens, Mike Terry and David Winchester. Needless to say, these and other colleagues in the unit
do not necessarily share all of the views expressed here.
7
To continue reading
Request your trial