Which of the following perceive pluralistic approach to Industrial Relation : A. Work place conflict is seen as a temporary aberration, resulting from poor management, from employees who don’t mix with organisation’s culture. B. Trade Unions as legitimate representatives of employees interest. C. Stability in industrial relations as the product of concession and compromises between management and union. D. Organisations as coalitions of competing interest, where the management role is to mediate amongst the different interest groups. E. Conflict arises not just because of competing interests within the organisation but because of division within the society between those who own resources and those who have only labour to offer. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
B, C and D only
Statements B, C and D are pluralist — option 3.
The three frames of reference in industrial relations, from Alan Fox. The question mixes statements from all three, and the task is to pick out the pluralist ones :
| Unitarist | Pluralist | Radical / Marxist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The organisation is | One team with a single shared purpose — a family | A coalition of groups with legitimately different interests | An arena of the wider class conflict |
| Conflict is | Abnormal — caused by poor communication, agitators, or misfits | Normal, inevitable and manageable | Inherent in the structure of society and not resolvable within the firm |
| Trade unions are | An intrusion, a rival for loyalty | Legitimate representatives of a real interest | A vehicle of a wider struggle, though liable to be co-opted |
| Management’s role | To lead the single team | To mediate between interest groups and reach accommodation | Agent of the owners of capital |
| Stability comes from | Shared goals | Concession and compromise — collective bargaining | It is temporary; the underlying division persists |
Placing the five statements.
| Statement | Frame |
|---|---|
| A. Conflict is a temporary aberration from poor management or misfits | Unitarist — the word “aberration” gives it away |
| B. Unions are legitimate representatives | Pluralist |
| C. Stability comes from concession and compromise | Pluralist |
| D. Organisations are coalitions of competing interests; management mediates | Pluralist |
| E. Conflict reflects the division in society between owners of resources and those with only labour | Radical / Marxist — it locates the cause outside the firm altogether |
How to answer it quickly. Identify the two outliers rather than the three members. A is unmistakably unitarist and E is unmistakably radical; excluding both leaves B, C and D, which is option 3.
Why the pluralist frame matters. It is the assumption on which collective bargaining, recognition of unions, grievance procedures, conciliation and industrial tribunals all rest. If conflict were merely a management failure there would be no need for permanent machinery to handle it; the pluralist view is that such machinery is a normal and necessary part of an organisation.
Hence, the answer is B, C and D only.
Similar Questions
In Collective Bargaining, an ‘impasse’ refers to :
What is the belief among pluralists regarding conflict in organisation?
Which of the following are settlement machineries of industrial disputes under Industrial Disputes Act, 1947?
A. Works Committee
B. Collective Bargaining
C. Conciliation
D. Adjudication
E. Voluntary Arbitration
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Match the List-I with List-II
LIST I
Forms of StrikesLIST II
Appropriate MeaningA. Economic strike I. A strike aimed at protesting illegal conduct by the employer. B. Unfair labour practice strike II. A strike that results from a failure to agree on the terms of a contract that involves wages, benefits and other conditions of employment. C. Wild cat strike III. A strike that takes place when one union strikes in support of the strike of another. D. Sympathy strike IV. An unauthorized strike occurring during the term of a contract. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Which one of the following is a facility to file anonymous complaints ?
Which of the following are tripartite bodies ?
(a) Indian Labour Conference
(b) Standing Labour Committee
(c) State Level Advisory Boards
Code :
The Right to strike is a __________.
Which one of the following represents a system where by an employer regularly deducts a portion of employee's wage to pay subscription fee of trade union ?
Consider the following elements :
(a) Actors
(b) Inputs
(c) Context
(d) Output
(e) Ideology
Which of these are not the elements of John T. Dunlop's Framework of Industrial Relations System ?
With respect to collective bargaining match the items in List - I with those in List - II, using the codes at the end of the items.
List - I List - II (a) Win - Lose (i) Winning is everything (b) Lose - Win (ii) Nothing for nothing (c) Lose - Lose (iii) Everything for everything (d) Win - Win (iv) Relationship is paramount Code :
Important Questions from Collective bargaining and workers’ participation in management
Through which one of the following influences of workers’ participation in management regarding ‘safety and welfare and work-related’ issues are resolved?
Assertion A: Workers participation in management is involvement of workers only in such areas of activities of the enterprises where they can make some positive contribution.
Reasoning R: Workers may not be competent enough to understand and appreciate the managerial aspects of the enterprise.
- Which one of the following is not a function of plant council ?
- Which one of the following industrial relations approach believes in state intervention via legislation and the creation of industrial tribunals as supporting management's interest rather than ensuring a balance between the competing groups ?
- What is the term coined for the system of communication and consultation, either formal or informal, by which workers of an organization are kept informed, as and when required, about the affairs of the undertaking and through which they express their opinion and contribute to decision-making process of management ?
