Teaching Talk: Best Reading in your Undergrad OOW Course?

On By Chris PrenerIn Announcements, TeachingLeave a comment

Erin Kelly (kelly101@umn.edu) writes:

As the spring term wraps up, I wanted to experiment with a new type of blog post asking people to share their teaching wisdom. If you have ideas for future Teaching Talk posts, please send them to me or Matt Vidal (mgvidal@gmail.com).

What was the single best reading in your undergraduate organizations, occupations, or work course this year? Why did it work, i.e. what was the central message for students and what did they find engaging? Please specify the course you were teaching (title, level) as well.

I am particularly interested in readings on social service organization(s) or social movement organization(s) because I’ll be teaching a capstone course with a service-learning component next year, but it would be great to hear about readings on a variety of topics as we reflect back on this year and plan for next year.

Member Query: Organizational Sociology Courses in Business Majors

On By Chris PrenerIn Member Query2 Comments

John Grady <jgrady@wheatonma.edu> writes:

Wheaton College is developing a new major in business. It includes as a requirement a course to be taught in organizational behavior in the psychology department. We will be offering a course on How Organizations Work, and have requested that it be considered as an alternative to the Organizational Behavior course. The administration feels that the psychology course is a standard offering in business majors, but that organizational sociology is not. Can a case be made — with examples to boot — of the equivalence of the sociological studies of organizations in such offerings?

Member Query: Redesigning Work Space in Academic Settings

On By Chris PrenerIn Member QueryLeave a comment

Beth Mertz (bmertz@thecenter.ucsf.edu) writes:

Do any of you do research on, or know of research on, the reorganization of work spaces through open floor plans (i.e., such as has been done in technology sector such as the HP open floor plan, no offices, or offices without doors, etc) in the University context? Specifically, has anyone experienced, studied, or know of a university that has shifted a social sciences department/research group, including faculty, post docs or RAs and admin staff, from traditional office/cube type set up to one of these open floor plan – no offices, everyone gets an ‘equal’ space (regardless of your rank, title, etc) with ‘huddle rooms’ for group meetings or private phone calls. We are seeking evidence (anecdotal or published) that looks at the issues such a transition might raise, or outcomes of such an experiment. Alternatively, do any of you within a social sciences research group have experience with departments  moving to new or remodeled space that worked very well? What was the redesigned space like?

Thank you for any feedback or leads to data/experiments of this type that you can provide.

Doctoral Position in Sociology (Wissenschaftliche(r) Mitarbeiter(in) in der Arbeitssoziologie)

On By matt vidalIn AnnouncementsLeave a comment

The Faculty for Social Sciences (FB03) at Goethe-University Frankfurt, Department of Sociology, in the Team of Prof. Heather Hofmeister, Ph.D., Professor for Sociology with the Specialty in the Sociology of Work, invites applications for a half-position (50%) as a doctoral candidate in Sociology for three years (German pay scale TV-H 13) working toward completing a dissertation within those three years (we allow ample time for  the dissertation project as well as co-authored publications with team members).  The successful candidate will also teach one class per semester on a topic within the sociology of work (except for the first and last semesters of the position, where the teaching responsibility is applied toward teaching training).  The position is located within the team of the Sociology of Work and includes working with the interdisciplinary Center for Leadership and Behavior in Organizations (CLBO). The position is to begin as soon as convenient, but ideally no later than September 2013.

 

The topics we especially are interested in seeing handled in the dissertation of the successful candidate are the changing nature and/or meaning of work over historical time, across the life course, and/or in varying national contexts. We’re looking at changes in timing and expectations of work, how work competes with or complements responsibilities and wishes in other domains of life, hierarchies (leaders, followers, relations within teams, including gender dimensions), and trends in the future of work.  We’re especially interested in supporting our new candidate to do quantitative research on job changes over time.  An international comparative perspective is welcome.

 

What we offer:

·        Friendly, constructive, helpful, and experienced colleagues.

·        New state-of-the-art offices on the green, centrally located Frankfurt Westend Campus.

·        An interdisciplinary collegial setting in the immediate working environment and through cooperative projects and contacts (sociology, political science, psychology, economics).

·        A structured qualification process: regularly scheduled meetings with the dissertation supervisor (Hofmeister), with the team on research opportunities and issues, chances to present work locally, nationally, and internationally, chance to collect teaching experience through co-teaching and independent teaching, and general academic socialization. One specialty of the team is science communication (bringing research results to the public).

 

Requirements:

·       A completed Masters Degree or Diploma in Sociology by the start of the position.

·       An interest in and background experience in the Sociology of Work (coursework, research).

·       The ability and interest in conducting independent empirical sociological research.

·       Excellent methods skills, quantitative but also qualitative will be considered. Candidates with experience in multivariate statistics are preferred, including experience with SPSS, STATA, or similar programs.

·       Evidence of personal engagement, ability to be self-directed, and having a team-oriented and cooperative working style.

·       English language fluency or near-fluency.  Competency in German or willingness to gain competency.

·       Excellent writing and presentation skills, computer literacy.

Equal Opportunities policies apply, including the preferential hiring of persons with disabilities who possess the same qualifications as the other top candidates.

In your electronic application, please include:

(1)  a cover letter stating why you are a good fit for this position,

(2)  your full academic CV,

(3)  an example of your scientific writing (can be a final paper from a seminar or a masters thesis),

(4)  The names of references (with contact information; no letter of recommendation needed at this time, but if you already have these, you are welcome to send them), and

(5)  if you already have an idea for your dissertation, please send a one-page Exposé about your potential dissertation project.

Applications should be sent in electronic form (.pdf preferred) to: arbeitssoziologie@em.uni-frankfurt.de.  We will evaluate applications starting in mid-April 2013 and continue to accept applications until the position is filled with a qualified candidate.

Relevant links:

www.fb03.uni-frankfurt.de/soziologie

www.heather-hofmeister.de

http://www.clbo-frankfurt.org/

http://www.gesellschaftswissenschaften.uni-frankfurt.de/institut_1/hhofmeister/index.html

OOW members: Post a summary of your book on the Work in Progress blog

On By matt vidalIn AnnouncementsLeave a comment

The Work in Progress blog team has decided to offer every member of the section the opportunity to write a short summary their newly published book for the Work in Progress blog. The blog is getting around 2,000 views per month.

If you would like to take advantage of this, please email an 800-1,200 word summary of your book to Matt Vidal (matt.vidal@kcl.ac.uk). Your summary should focus on key findings, written for a wide public audience with minimal jargon.

Sociology journal call for papers: Sociology and the Global Economic Crisis

On By matt vidalIn AnnouncementsLeave a comment
Sociology
A journal of the British Sociological Association

Sociology and the Global Economic Crisis

Special Issue Call for Papers
Deadline for submissions: 31 August 2013

Editorial Team:
Ana C. Dinerstein (University of Bath), Gregory Schwartz (University of Bath) and Graham Taylor (University of the West of England)

We hear it, see it, and read about it everywhere; yet, to what extent are we able to translate the quotidian reality of the global economic crisis into adequate forms of knowledge? Has the crisis highlighted important limits in our sociological imagination linked either to the subdivision of our discipline or, more fundamentally, questioned the contemporary relevance of sociology as a social science?

This Special Issue of Sociology, to be published in October 2014, invites contributions that will:

·         Explore how sociology can contribute to a better understanding of (the lived experience of) the global economic crisis; and/or
·         Reflect on how social processes and movements confronting the crisis can inspire a new sociological imagination.

And aims to bring together contributions that:
·         Bridge disciplines
·         Unsettle conventions
·         Cosmopolitanise epistemologies
·         Renew sociology

The Editors welcome contributions on relevant topics in any field of social science engaging with sociological research, from early career and established academics, and from those outside academia.

Queries: To discuss initial ideas or seek editorial advice, please contact the Special Issue Editors by email on sociology.specialissue.2014@gmail.com

Full Call for Papers can be viewed at

Management Theory Conference, September 2013, San Francisco

On By matt vidalIn AnnouncementsLeave a comment

The first Management Theory Conference will take place September 27-29, 2013 in San Francisco, California.

The mission of the conference is to facilitate, recognize, and reward the creation of new theories that advance our understanding of management and organizations. Submissions can be about any aspect of management and organizations, but submissions can only be new theory papers.

Submission deadline is Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 5:00 PM ET (New York time), due to popular request.

Awards to be given at the conference:

Wiley/Jossey-Bass Outstanding New Theory Award ($1,000).
Wiley/Jossey-Bass Outstanding Contribution to Management Theory Award ($1,500).

Keynote speakers include:

Roy Suddaby, editor, Academy of Management Review

For more information, and to submit a paper, please visit the Management Theory Conference website at http://events.trustevent.com/index.cfm?eid=1216

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Miles, Conference Chair
Management Theory Conference
Professor of Management
Eberhardt School of Business
University of the Pacific
Email: theoryconference@pacific.edu
Website: http://events.trustevent.com/index.cfm?eid=1216

Labor & Employment Relations Association Meeting Announcement and Call

On By Chris PrenerIn Announcements, Calls for PapersLeave a comment

LERA (Labor & Employment Relations Association) 2014 Meeting in conjunction with ASSA/AEA
Jan. 3-5, 2014, Philadelphia, PA

“Growing Good Jobs and Connecting Workers to Them: Challenges and Opportunities for Theory and Action”

Eileen Appelbaum, LERA Program Chair and Past President; 
William Rodgers, LERA Program Co-Chair

Deadline: March 3, 2013

The LERA Program Committee has issued a call for symposia proposals and papers for stimulating, creative, and controversial symposia related to this theme as well as other proposals that deal with topics of current interest and the mission of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA).

The LERA is filling slots for 27 academic symposia at the ASSA/AEA meetings in 2014, and the opportunities have never been better for academics and researchers. We especially encourage younger academics, or researchers engaged in applied research, or those who historically may not be represented at the ASSA/AEA meetings, to submit papers and proposals.

Submissions from the perspectives of multiple disciplines – including but not limited to economics, sociology, political science, labor and employment law, industrial relations, and human resource studies – and the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, including investors, managers, workers and unions, are encouraged.

Find complete information and submit a proposal or paper online at the LERA website:
http://leraweb.org/LERA-ASSA-call

Proposals must be submitted or reach the LERA Office no later than March 3, 2013. Contact LERAoffice@illinois.edu if you have any questions.

Program Committee:
Eileen Appelbaum, Chair, Center for Economic and Policy Research
William Rodgers, Co-Chair, Rutgers University
Randy Albelda, University of Massachusetts-Boston
Sylvia Allegretto, University of California, Berkeley
Peter Berg, Michigan State University
Lonnie Golden, Penn State University-Abington
Elaine McCrate, University of Vermont
Jeannette Wicks-Lim, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Post-Doc Position of Interest to Work-Family Scholars

On By Chris PrenerIn Job PostingsLeave a comment

The Center for Work-Family Stress, Safety & Health (CWFSSH) at Portland State University, under the direction of Dr. Leslie Hammer, is seeking a post-doc researcher for a one year appointment (March 2013-Feb 2014). This individual will work directly under Dr. Hammer but will also be part of the Work, Family & Health Network (WFHN), funded by the NIH and CDC. The WFHN designs, implements and evaluates randomized field experiments that involve workplace interventions to reduce work-family conflict and improve employee and family health. See http://www.pdx.edu/work-family-support/ and http://www.workfamilyhealthnetwork.org/ for more information on the project.   This individual will bear primary responsibility for data management and analysis, as well as writing results for grant-related papers, presentations and manuscripts.

Mini-Conference on Labor and Global Solidarity

On By Chris PrenerIn Calls for Papers, ConferencesLeave a comment

We would like to remind everyone about our exciting mini-conference in August and the upcoming deadline (Feb 15th) to submit abstracts.  Below is the full Call for Papers and description of the event. We’d really like to get a large number of submissions to make for a lively and engaging conference.

So please, submit your abstract today and please also share the announcement and submission request with your students, colleagues and wider networks.

Looking forward to seeing you all in NYC.

Best,

Steve McKay – smckay@ucsc.edu
Carolina Bank Munoz – carolinabm75@gmail.com
David Fasenfest – critical.sociology@gmail.com

CFP: Mini-Conference:
Labor and Global Solidarity – The US, China and Beyond
The Labor & Labor Movements Section of the ASA and the Society for the Study of Social Problems are pleased to announce a Mini-conference entitled Labor and Global Solidarity – The US, China and Beyond to be held concurrently with the ASA and SSSP meetings in New York City on Monday, August 12th, 2013.  The conference will be held at the Joseph A. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies, City University of New York (18th Floor, 25 West 43rd Street).
The conference is co-sponsored by: the Asia and Asian American Section of ASA; the Labor Studies Section of SSSP; the Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies at CUNY; the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education; the Manhattan College Labor Studies Program; Critical Sociology; the Labour Movements Research Committee (RC44) of the International Sociological Association; and the China Association of Work and Labor of the Chinese Sociological Association.
The one-day mini-conference will bring together scholars and practitioners to address the changing landscapes of work and labor organizing at multiple scales, from the local to the transnational.  Facing the global re-organization of production chains, the expansion of precarious work, hostile political climates, and the continued world-wide economic malaise, workers and their allies nonetheless continue to act, from escalating unrest across China, to new models of organizing in NYC, to greater cross-border solidarity, North-South and South-South.
To engage these developments and spark discussion, the conference will include panels on both local, global and transnational labor issues and organizing strategies.  We also seek a mix of activists and academics.  Finally, the mini-conference is an opportunity for international exchange as five labor scholars from China will be participating throughout the event and across the different panels.  Papers including the U.S. and China are especially welcome, but topics and evidence from all over the world are appropriate.
We invite submissions of abstracts (min. 300 words) or full papers on a broad range of topics related to local and global labor, but are particularly interested in submissions that address the following themes of the conference:

  • Labor in China
  • Insurgency and Institutions
  • Organizing (im)migrants – here, there and in the diaspora
  • South–South Solidarity
  • Transnational Labor Organizing – How & When does it Work
  • Informal work, informal worker organizing
  • Monitoring international supply chains from the shop floor(s)
  • Responses to global economic crisis

To submit an abstract or paper, please send it to the conference co-organizers:  Carolina Bank Munoz (carolinabm75@gmail.com), David Fasenfest (critical.sociology@gmail.com), and Steve McKay (smckay@ucsc.edu).  Abstracts or papers are due February 15, 2013.  If submitting an abstract, full drafts of accepted papers are due June 30th, 2013.  Papers presented at the conference will also be considered for publication in a planned special issue of the journal Critical Sociology and/or in a separate edited book.  Conference participants will be responsible for covering their own travel and lodging expenses (though meals for participants on the program will be provided).  The conference will be free and open to the public.