Small Firms and Universities

Drawing on the insights of economic sociology, 'Small
Firms and Universities: How Training Markets Are
Socially Constructed' offers a detailed account of
actor behaviour within the market for vocational
education and training. Against the background of
debates surrounding the central role of skills in
promoting success within the global economy, Daniel
Bishop questions the popular suggestion that
individuals and organisations will make rationally
(and asocially) calculated 'investments' in their
skills, education and training in order to further
their chances of success. Through a study of small
firms and universities, he presents an alternative
view of the training market: one where the
participants are embedded in a complicated web of
subjective orientations and social relations. The
discussion dissects and explores this embeddedness
and complexity, and offers a new way forward for
understanding the way in which markets for education
and training operate.

Autorentext

Daniel Bishop is a Lecturer in Training and Development at theCentre for Labour Market Studies, University of Leicester. He hasconducted and published research in areas connected to training,development and workplace learning, with a particular interest inlearning processes within small businesses.

Klappentext

Drawing on the insights of economic sociology, 'SmallFirms and Universities: How Training Markets AreSocially Constructed' offers a detailed account ofactor behaviour within the market for vocationaleducation and training. Against the background ofdebates surrounding the central role of skills inpromoting success within the global economy, DanielBishop questions the popular suggestion thatindividuals and organisations will make rationally(and asocially) calculated 'investments' in theirskills, education and training in order to furthertheir chances of success. Through a study of smallfirms and universities, he presents an alternativeview of the training market: one where theparticipants are embedded in a complicated web ofsubjective orientations and social relations. Thediscussion dissects and explores this embeddednessand complexity, and offers a new way forward forunderstanding the way in which markets for educationand training operate.