Spring 2017 - LBST 308 D100
The Labour Process: Work and Technological Change (3)
Class Number: 1004
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Thu, 8:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Matthew Greaves
mgreaves@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
Strongly recommended: LBST 101 and/or 301.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Technological change and globalization are constantly transforming the nature of work. These transformations are examined in the historical development of work, with specific emphasis on the changing nature of the labour process in the present era.
COURSE DETAILS:
Common-sense descriptions of the labour process assume that manufacturing technologies are politically neutral. Innovation in the workplace is said to benefit the larger part of humanity in the long term. While in some ways an attractive narrative, such readings fail to account for the complexity and politics of technological change in capitalist production. This course seeks to demystify common-sense descriptions by investigating the salient elements of capitalism that influence technical change in the labour process. We begin the course by identifying some of the tendencies that differentiate capitalism from previous and alternative modes of production, exploring how these tendencies affect the labour process. From agrarian capitalism to emerging industrial society to twentieth century manufacturing, our focus in the first three-quarters of the course will be on machinery, large-scale industry, industrial labour processes, and the social and economic forces driving developments in the labour process. The political and economic implications of new manufacturing technologies and the scientific management of workers—or Taylorism—will also be explored, as will examples of resistance to technological change. The course will conclude with readings that explore emerging forms of labour process, related to rapid growth in the digital networks. Despite differences between manufacturing and digital jobs, students will consistently treat technology and the labour process as sites of social struggle.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
Students are expected to analyze the labour process and related technology as outcomes of history and conflictual interests.
Grading
- 1) Participation and attendance: 20%
- 2) In-class presentation: 20%
- 3) Mid-term exam: 20%
- 4) Final essay: 40%
NOTES:
i) Attendance and Participation (20%) Attendance and participation are compulsory. Six times during the semester students will prepare a question based on the readings. The question will be printed and handed to the instructor at the beginning of class. Each question will be worth 1% of a student’s final grade.
ii) Mid-Term Exam (20%) The midterm will be an in-class exam held in week 7. Questions will be given to students the week prior. The exam will be written from memory only: no notes. Students are required to write their mid-term exam and final essay on different topics.
iii) Presentations (20%) Students will individually give one presentation/paper lasting 12 – 15 minutes on a topic related to one or more of that week’s readings. Presentations must not be a general overview of a reading in its entirety. Students should instead identify and discuss issues (or an issue) within or related to a reading or readings. Students are required to introduce academic material outside of the course syllabus. Following completion of the week’s presentations, the instructor will moderate a discussion between presenters and audience members (non-presenting students). Students should consider this an opportunity to generate discussion and receive feedback on a topic related to their final paper.
iv) Final Essay (40%) Students will research and write an essay either (1) related to a labour process of their choosing or (2) comparing theories of the labour process. A good essay will relate the chosen labour process or labour-process theory to relevant socio-economic conditions and groups. The essay should be between 8 and 12 pages in length (excluding references), double-spaced, written in Times New Roman font (TNR is free and widely available for download), size 12, with reasonable margins (no funny business). There’s no need for a title page, it’s a waste of paper. Simply put your identifying information and title at the top of your first page. Final essay must be written on a topic different than that of your mid-term. Due date TBA.
REQUIREMENTS:
Students are expected to attend class prepared to discuss the required readings for that week and to complete their assignments on time.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
a) Late Assignments Students who do not present on the day assigned will incur a 10% penalty. No essays turned in past the deadline will be accepted, resulting in course failure. Please keep an electronic back-up of all your completed assignments.
b) Office Hour and Email Have a question for the Instructor? If possible, attend my office hours. Please avoid all non-essential email communication. If email communication is entirely necessary, please allow plenty of time (72 hours) for reply, and do not expect communication over the weekend. When writing the Instructor, please include “LBST 308” in the title field, otherwise you should not anticipate a response.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS