Societal complexity or production techniques: another look at udy's data on the structure of work organizations

American Journal of Sociology • Vol/Iss. 82 • Published In • Pages: 845-853 •
By Norr, James L., Norr, Kathleen L.

Abstract

This study asserts that the structure of work organizations is affected more by production techniques than societal complexity. Empirical analysis suggests two trends: 1) production techniques that increase the importance of workers will influence rationality in work organizations, and 2) production techniques that increase the importance of workers and societal complexity will affect the bureaucratic elements of work organizations approximately equally. These findings challenge Udy’s (1970) thesis that complex peasant societies face more challenges than less complex societies in transitioning to modern industrial work forms.
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Amelia Piazza