Individual Involvement in Context

Abstract

In this chapter we shall bring together the aggregate features of establishments and individual characteristics in order to see how far each contributes independently to involvement in collective representation. However, before we deal with the latter, it is interesting to consider the question of the relations between these two units of analysis — that is, whether different establishments tend to employ different kinds of individuals in non-manual occupations. Thus, for example, the social background profile of employees may differ from one establishment to another, and some may offer different levels and mixes of rewards from others. Size might be relevant, in that larger establishments might offer higher salaries or provide better promotion prospects. So also might those that have grown faster, which might also be able to provide greater security. Similarly, the greater bureaucratisation in some establishments might show up in lower intrinsic job rewards. In the first part of this chapter we shall be considering questions of this kind, trying to see whether particular characteristics of establishments are associated with differences in the kinds of people that they employ, and in their reactions to their experience.