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The HR/IR Theory-Reality “Lag” – An Exploration


Affiliations
1 Chair Professor – Industrial Relations, XLRI School of Management, P.Box 222, Circuit House Area (East), Jamshedpur 831001, India
2 Associate Professor - OB & Communication Area, Institute of Management, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India
     

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The sociological construct of “culture lag” which suggest that human response always lags behind technological advance can also be extended to the reality-theory and realitypractice context of the world of work. Human resource management and industrial relations theory and practice, discipline and function whose role is to help in understanding and dealing with the reality of work and the reality for workers seem to be in a different world al t oge t her di sconnect e d f rom today’s reality. This study seeks to examine this lag between today’s reality and yesterday’s theory-practice constructions in the context of the workers and their working conditions in the national garment industry supplier units linked to the global supply chain of international brands.



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  • The HR/IR Theory-Reality “Lag” – An Exploration

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Authors

Jerome Joseph
Chair Professor – Industrial Relations, XLRI School of Management, P.Box 222, Circuit House Area (East), Jamshedpur 831001, India
Muncherji N
Associate Professor - OB & Communication Area, Institute of Management, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India

Abstract


The sociological construct of “culture lag” which suggest that human response always lags behind technological advance can also be extended to the reality-theory and realitypractice context of the world of work. Human resource management and industrial relations theory and practice, discipline and function whose role is to help in understanding and dealing with the reality of work and the reality for workers seem to be in a different world al t oge t her di sconnect e d f rom today’s reality. This study seeks to examine this lag between today’s reality and yesterday’s theory-practice constructions in the context of the workers and their working conditions in the national garment industry supplier units linked to the global supply chain of international brands.



References