Dunlop's Sosiological System Approach: Application at a Leading Manufacturing Industry in Bangladesh

Anisur Rahman Khan; Md. Zohurul Islam

doi:10.26740/ijss.v5n2.p192-202

Authors

Anisur Rahman Khan East West University
Md. Zohurul Islam East West University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26740/ijss.v5n2.p192-202

Keywords:

Dunlop, system approach, Walton, Bangladesh

Abstract

This is the first-ever study that applies John Dunlop’s seminal sociological theoretical approach to the industrial relations system to analyze the working environment in Walton–a hi-Tech leading manufacturing plant in Bangladesh. Starting its operation in 1977 as a small-scale enterprise, Walton currently captures a big portion of the domestic market and also extending its operation to international markets. The study is based on the five testable components of industrial relations including government/actor, technology, ideology, market and power. Questionnaires were developed to collect data from 120 respondents from different departments of the company through random sampling. The results confirm that the Dunlop approach works in a befitting manner in most cases. The findings bear important lessons for practitioners and researchers using theoretical tools of system approach in the sphere of employee relations.

References

Ali, H. 2020. “Mutuality or Mutual Dependence in the Psychological Contract: A Power Perspective”. Employee Relations, 42 (1):125-148.

Anyim, F.C. Ikemefuna, C.O., and Ekwoaba, J.O. 2012. “Dunlopian Theory: Impact and Relevance to Nigeria Industrial Relations System”. International Journals of Management and Business Studies, 42 (1): 39-46.

Autor D., and Dorn D. 2013. “The Growth of Low Skill Service Jobs and the Polarization of the US Labor Market.” Am. Econ. Rev., 103(5):1553–1597.

Bemmels B., and Foley J.R. 1996. “Grievance Procedure Research: A Review and Theoretical Recommendations.” Journal of Management, 22 (3): 359-384.

Blain A. N.J., and Gennard J. 1970. “Industrial Relation Theory-A Critical Review.” British Journal of Industrial Relations, 8(3): 389-407.

Boon C. Olffen W. V., and Witteloostuijn A.V. 2005. “

Chowdhury F. N. 2017. “A Study of Entrepreneurship Development In Bangladesh: Pros and Cons.” Journal of Asian Scientific Research, 7(1): 1-11.

Cox T.H., and Blake S. 1991. “Managing Cultural Diversity: Implications for Organizational Competitiveness.” Academy of Management Executive, 5(3): 45-56.

D’Souza S. 2018. “Employee Rewards in HRM and its Impact on Employee Engagement in an Organization.” International Journal Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 2(4): 1425-1432.

Dixit G.K., and Sharma A.K. 2015. Maintaining Industrial Harmony through Employee’s Engagement: A Study Report Conduct in Automobile Industry. Delhi NCR.

Dunlop J.T. 1958. Industrial Relations System. New York: Hency Holt and Co.

Faruque A.A. 2009. Current Status and Evolution of Industrial Relations System in Bangladesh. ILO: Cornell University International Publications.

Fayol H. 1949. “General and Industrial Management”. London: Pitman and Sons.

Flanders A. 1965. Industrial Relations: What is Wrong with the System? London: Faber and

Faber.

Johnnie P. B. 1992. “Methodological Issues of Dunlop's Industrial Relations Systems Theory.” Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 27 (3): 227-242.

Gooberman L. Hauptmeier M. and Heery E. 2019. “The Decline of Employers’ Associations in the UK 1976-2014.” Journal of Industrial Relations, 61(1): 11-32.

Guest D. 2017. “Human Resource Management and Employee Well-Being: Towards a New Analytic Framework.” Human Resource Management Journal, 27: 22–38.

Hernaus T. Pavlovic D., and Klindzic M. 2019. “Organizational Career Management Practices: The Role of the Relationship between HRM and Trade Union.” Employee Relations, 41(1): 84-100.

Jayeoba F.I., Ayantunji, O. I., and Soolesi, O.I. 2013. “A critique of the Systems Theory of J.T. Dunlop.” International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences, 2(2): 97-106.

Johnnie P. B. 1992. “Methodological Issues of Dunlop's Industrial Relations Systems Theory.” Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 27(3): 227-242.

Khan A. A., and Taher A. 2018. Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. Dhaka: Abir Publication.

Khan M. H. 2008. Technological Upgrading in Bangladeshi Manufacturing: Governance Constraints and Policy Responses in the Ready Made Garments Industry. London: Department of Economics, SOAS, University of London.

Khatri N. 2011. “A Taxonomy Of Supervisor-Subordinate Exchanges Across Cultures.” IIBM Management Review, 23(2): 71-80.

Simulation Study.” Academy of Management Journal, 48(5): 889-909.

Team Locus-of-Control Composition Leadership Structure Information Acquisition and Financial Performance: A Business

Ellem B. Goods C., and Todd P. 2020. “Rethinking Power Strategy and Renewal: Members and

Unions in Crisis.” British Journal of Industrial Relations, 58 (2): 424-446.

Frey C. B., and Osborne M .A. 2017. “The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to

Computerisation?” Technological Forecasting and Social Change,114: 254–280.

201

Kinnie N. J. 1985. “Changing Management Strategies in Industrial Relations.” Industrial

Relations Journal, 16(4): 17-24.

Margerison C.J. (1969). “What Do We Mean by Industrial Relations? A Behavioral Science Approach.” British Journal of Industrial Relations, 7: 273-286.

Murphy P. Blackaby D. O'Leary N. and Staneva A. 2020. “Understanding What Has Been Happening to the Public-Sector Pay Premium in Great Britain: A Distributional Approach Based on the Labour Force Survey.” British Journal of Industrial Relations, 58(2): 273-300.

Orr S. 1999. “The Role of Technology in Manufacturing Strategy: Experiences from the Australian Wine Industry.” Journal: Integrated Manufacturing Systems,

57– 77.

Premalatha U.M. 2012. “An Approach to Improve Productivity and Profitability Referring to Select Units of Mumbai Industries Development Corporation.” International Journal of

Marketing and Technology, 2(7): 95-102.

Pulignano V. 2018. “Workplace Inequality Trade Unions and the Transnational Regulation of

the Employment Relationship.” Employee Relations, 39 (3): 351-364.

Pulignano V. Carrieri D., and Baccaro L. 2018. “Industrial relations in Italy in the Twenty-first

Century.” Employee Relations, 40 (4): 654-673.

Rogowski R. 2000. “Industrial Relations as a Social System.” Industrielle Beziehungen / The German

Journal of Industrial Relations, 7(1): 97-126. 305-330.

296-308.

Stinglhamber F. Ohana M. Caesens G., and Meyer M. 2020. “Perceived Organizational

Support: The Interactive Role of Coworkers’ Perceptions and Employees’ Voice.”

Employee Relations, 42(1): 107-124.

Taylor F. W. 1911. The Principles of Scientific Management. New York: Harper and Row. Thakur V. 2019. Management Thought and Contemporary Management Theory.

https://www.academia.edu/41230815/Management_Thought_and_Contemporary_Ma

nagement_Theory [accessed 22/02/2022].

Uzuegbu C. P., and Nnadozie C. O. 2015. “Henry Fayol’s 14 Principles of Management:

Implications for Libraries and Information Centers.” J. of Infosci. Theory and Practice,

3(2): 58-72.

Walton R.E., and Mckersie R.B. 1965. A Behavioral Theory of Labor Negotiations: An Analysis of a

Social Interaction System. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Zhong R. Y. Xun X. Eberhard K., and Stephen T. N. 2017. “Intelligent Manufacturing in the Context of Industry 4.0: A Review.” Engineering, 3(5): 616-630.

Kuruvilla S. 1996. “Linkages between Industrialization Strategies and Industrial Relations/Human Resource Policies: Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India.” Industrial Labor Relations Review, 49(4), 635–657.

Lee H. S. 1996. “Theory Construction in Industrial Relations: A Synthesis of PDR System.”

Korean Economic Review,12 (2): 199-218.

Pisarczyk Ł. 2019. “The Crisis of the Collective Bargaining System in Poland.” International

10 (1): 45-55. Journal of Comparative Labor Law and Industrial Relations, 35(1):

Salamon M. 1998. Industrial Relations: Theory and Practice. London: Prentice Hall.

Schmid G. 2019. “Labor Market Policy and Labor Law Reforms in Germany: Towards Inclusive

Growth.” International Journal of Comparative Labor Law and Industrial

Relations, 35(3):

Srivastava S., and Madan P. 2018. “A Measure for Employee Empowerment in Indian Work

Setting.” Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 54(2):

Whiteside N. 2019. “State Policy and Employment Regulation in Britain: An Historical Perspective.” International Journal of Comparative Labor Law and Industrial Relations, 35(3): 379-402.