Polishing Knowledge: A Study of Marble and Granite Processing
Journal Title: BAR: Brazilian Administration Review - Year 2014, Vol 11, Issue 3
Abstract
The aim of this article is to understand the work situations and highlight aspects of the knowledge invested by workers when performing marble and granite processing activities. The survey is qualitative and was based on the reality of a small industrial company that deals with processing activities. The case study was based on theoretical and analytical ergology tools by analyzing the organizational documents and safety and health standards that regulate activity. It involved conducting individual interviews with nine workers, organizing a focus group with these workers, and directly observing work for four months while recording a field notebook. The workers’ experiences in the renormalization of working processes, or the introduction of improvements guided by singular aspects of the local work organization, were identified. The workers, through use of oneself, place more importance on meeting deadlines and production targets than on their own safety. Worker competency is directly related to the professional training obtained on the job and is associated with working experience in the absence of an a priori formal education. This article contributes to the field of organizational studies and human resource management because there is a lack of studies on workers from this field that describe the competencies used in actual work. Thus it may guide theoretical and practical management aspects in such working environments and small businesses regarding safer work organization.
Authors and Affiliations
Mezadre, Simone De Bruim Babisk; Bianco, Monica de Fátima
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP40581
- DOI -
- Views 221
- Downloads 0
Does Technological Learning Pay Off? Implications of Capability Accumulation for Techno-economic Performance Improvement in a Steelmaking Unit in Brazil (1997-2001)
This paper focuses on the implications of learning processes for technological capability accumulation and performance improvement. These relations are evaluated through a single case study in the steelmaking unit of C...
Proposal of a Validation Framework for a New Measurement Model and its Application to the Export Performance Construct
This paper presents a comprehensive and integrated set of validation procedures to assess the satisfactoriness of measurement models of multifaceted constructs. The validation framework is then applied to a new measurem...
Determinants of the Capital Structure of Small and Medium Sized Brazilian Enterprises
This research investigates the determinants of the capital structure of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) using a unique database that includes over 19,000 Brazilian firms and spans 13 years of data. The econometric...
Who are the relevant stakeholders to the local government context? Empirical evidences on environmental influences in the decision-making process of English Local Authorities
This article presents empirical evidence of stakeholding in the local government context. It is the result of a survey carried out with English Local Authorities in 2001. It outlines the arena in which local government m...
An Examination of Human Resource Management Practices’ Influence on Organizational Commitment and Entrenchment
This study sought to understand how the employee perceptions of human resource management practices influence both organizational affective commitment and entrenchment. It represents advancement towards discriminant va...