BELL'S THEORY

Compare and contrast Bell's theory of postindustrial society vs. Braverman's theory of deskilling

Compare and contrast Bell's theory of postindustrial society vs. Braverman's theory of deskilling

Bell's theory of postindustrial society

Bell is primarily concerned with changes in the social structure, which is composed of technology, the economy and the occupational system. Its axial principle is 'functional rationality' which relates to cost limitation and optimisation of output, that is to say efficiency and productivity. This dimension is concerned with the 'organization of production and the allocation of goods and services'. Using this framework, Bell clarifies the idea of P-IS by tracing its antecedence from pre-industrial and industrial societies and compares the features of each. A pre-industrial society is characterised by primary economic sector occupations and extractive industries such as agriculture, fishing and mining which dominate the economy. Raw material is the main source of technology. An industrial society is based on the secondary sector which 'centres on human-machine relationships' and the application of energy to mass manufacturing and processing of tangible goods. The key occupations are the engineer and semi-skilled factory worker. (Veneris, 2004, 54-67)

A P-IS is dominated by the service sectors and professional and technical occupations. It is marked by the centrality of human relationships and 'intellectual technology', based on information and information and computing technology (ICT), which 'rises alongside of machine technology'. Bell explains his theory by specifying five dimensions of PI-S. 'Creation of a service economy' is the first dimension. Bell asserts that a 'post-industrial society is based on services': there is a shift from an economy primarily based on goods production to one based on services. According to Waters this service economy emerged in the USA in the mid 1950s and now underpins the economies of 'much of the Western world, Japan and some of the Asian dragons'. Mackay asserts that 'Bell does not really define what he means by a 'service', only contrasting it with the 'goods' of industrial society'. The Economist defines services as products of economic activity that you can't drop on your foot'. Roberts et al. refer to Hill and expand this definition and assert that services are 'consumed simultaneously with their production', they cannot be stored and are intangible. (Veneris, 2004, 54-67)

Braverman's theory of deskilling

The first and probably major questionable item is whether Braverman's is based upon a very romantic view of the typical 19th century craft work, which he favours so much. Even though Braverman was not the only sociologist whose ideas suffered from this idealistic standpoint it still has to be questioned, whether or not this is a suitable basis. It was a very small amount of workers in the 19th century who were really able to perform the described rustical type of crafts work. The far majority on the other hand did not have the privilege or skill to perform these tasks. Furthermore it has been criticised, that the deskilling of the workforce is something very typical to capitalistic ideas. The deskilling of work or the workforce is something even ...