On Stage

This book reports findings and results from studies
of change processes in the secondary woodworking
industry. Case studies and action research were
performed in small manufacturing companies, mainly
with less than 100 employees. Topics elaborated are
how ergonomic performance can be measured and the
influence of standards and ISO 9000 on system
performance and working conditions. Moreover, a
framework for how change is enacted in SMEs and its
effects on ergonomic considerations is suggested. A
methodology for initiating change efforts in complex
and ambiguous problem situations is presented.
Finally the different roles in an organisational
change effort are elaborated.
The importance of action and work activities as
a base for change is emphasized. It is in the
conflicting work activities of differing
perspectives where the drivers of change can be
found. It is also argued that this is a main reason
to give good working conditions utmost importance
for organization performance. The results are
relevant to small manufacturing firms, while neither
organizational structure nor resources available are
the same as in larger companies.

Autorentext

Johan Karltun received his M.Sc in Mech. Eng. at Chalmers. After working 12 years in Industry and 8 in a Research Institute he received his PhD in Industrial Ergonomics at Linköping University 2007. He is now a Senior Lecturer at Jönköping University and his main research interest is the interaction between humans, technology and organization.

Klappentext

This book reports findings and results from studies of change processes in the secondary woodworking industry. Case studies and action research were performed in small manufacturing companies, mainly with less than 100 employees. Topics elaborated are how ergonomic performance can be measured and the influence of standards and ISO 9000 on system performance and working conditions. Moreover, a framework for how change is enacted in SMEs and its effects on ergonomic considerations is suggested. A methodology for initiating change efforts in complex and ambiguous problem situations is presented. Finally the different roles in an organisational change effort are elaborated. The importance of action and work activities as a base for change is emphasized. It is in the conflicting work activities of differing perspectives where the drivers of change can be found. It is also argued that this is a main reason to give good working conditions utmost importance for organization performance. The results are relevant to small manufacturing firms, while neither organizational structure nor resources available are the same as in larger companies.