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Culture and Work

Culture and Work

Industrial, Organisational and Labour Studies

Postgraduate Module

Culture & Work 2007

University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, Durban

Lecturer: Dr. Simon Mapadimeng
Telephone: 031-2602862 or 031-2601097

 

Duration: August – November

Introduction

This module examines the nature of the relationships between culture and work in order to determine the influence that societal is having on industrial enterprises and/or on the workplace and whether or not such culture enhances or inhibits work performance and workers participation in workplace activities, especially in decision makings. Here attention will be given to various theoretical perspectives on the relationships between culture, economy and development. This would help to shed a light on the role of culture in the economic life of the society. Such theoretical perspectives would formulate a framework for the subsequent examination and analysis of the indigenous African culture of Ubuntu in South Africa and its relevance and/or significance to economic development in the contemporary South African society. To enhance this analysis, a review would be made of debates on indigenous African cultures and intellectual traditions and their relevance or irrelevance to economy and development and also of the past and present experiences of other countries, especially those in the East Asian region, where societal culture and value system are said to have played a role in their economic development.

Assessments:

Term Paper (due towards end of semester) 20%

Weekly Seminar Papers (Only the best three are selected. Each counts 10%). 30%

Three Hour Long Examination 50%

NB. A topic for the term paper will be circulated during the running of the course.

Introduction plus Seminars 1, 2 and 3

 

On the concept of culture, economic development & modernity

  • Bocock, R. 1992. ”The cultural formations of modern society”, in S. Hall & B. Gieben(eds) Formations of Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press, The Open University.
  • Tongi, L. 1996. Sociology for Africa. Pretoria: Kagiso Publishers.
  • Ray, L and Sayer, A. 1999. Culture and Economy After the Cultural Turn, SAGE Publications, Ltd, London. California. New Delhi.
  • Swingewood, A. 1998. Cultural Theory and the problem of Modernity, MacMillan Press, Ltd, London.

Seminar Paper 1 Due Date: 23rd August 2007

Question:

Does social culture have economic and developmental relevance? Discuss, paying attention various theoretical perspectives on culture, social change and economy.
NB. Your paper should not be longer than 6 pages.

Seminars 4, 5 and 6

 

Culture, economy and development: Theoretical perspectives on African traditions and cultures.

  • Amato, P ”African philosophy and modernity”
  • Appiah, KA ”Europe upside down: Fallacies of the New Afrocentricism”
  • Coetzee, PH and Roux, APJ(eds) Philosophy from Africa 1998, International Thomson Publishing(Southern Africa) Pty Ltd, South Africa.
  • Gyeke, K ”Philosophy, culture and technology in the postcolonial”
  • Hannerz, U ”The world in creolization”, in K.Barber(ed), Readings in African Popular Culture, 1997, The International African Institute, London.
  • Horton, R ”African traditional thought and Western science”
  • Makang, J ”Of the good use of tradition: keeping the critical perspective in African philosophy”

Please note that:

Amato, Gyeke and Makang’s articles are in the text edited by Chukwudi Eze, EC entitled Postcolonial African
Philosophy – A critical reader, 1997, Blackwell Publishers Ltd, UK and USA.

Appiah and Horton’s articles are in the text edited by Grinker, RR and Steiner, CB entitled Perspectives on
Africa, 1997, Blackwell Publishers Ltd, UK and USA.

NB. In both texts you will find several other relevant articles.

Seminar Paper 2 Due Date: 6th September 2007

Question:

Indigenous African traditions and cultural values are a hindrance to socio-economic progress and development. Critically evaluate this assertion in the context of the debate on indigenous African traditions and cultures.

Seminars 7 & 8

 

Historical role of culture in the economy: Western European, East Asian & South East Asian experiences.

  • Amsden, A. 1989. Asia’s Next Giant – South Korea and Late Industrialization, Oxford University Press, New York. Oxford
  • Ayal, E. 1963. ”Value systems and economic development in Japan and Thailand”, in Journal of Social Issues, vol. 19
  • Funakawa, A. 1997. Transcultural Management : A new approach for global organizations, Jossey-Bass Inc., San Francisco, California
  • Giddens, A. 1971. Capitalism and modern social theory, Cambridge University Press, Part 3,Chapters 9& 12 (by M.Weber)
  • Kwan Lee, C. 1997. ”Factory regimes of Chinese capitalism: Different cultural logics in labour control”, in Ong, A and Nonini, DM (eds) Ungrounded Empires: the cultural politics of modern Chinese Transnationalism, Routledge, New York & London
  • O’Malley, WJ. 1978. ”Culture and Industrialization”, in H. Hughes (ed) Achieving Industrialization in East Asia. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press
  • Mo, and Moon, C. 1999. Democracy and the Korean Economy, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, Stanford. California.

Seminar Paper 3 Due Date: 20th September 2007

Question:

Critically examine the role that Confucian values played in the East Asian economic development.

Seminars 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13

African culture of Ubuntu in South Africa and relevance to economic development and the workplace

African Indigenous Culture of Ubuntu/Botho (Humanism) in SA: a Role in Socio-Economic Development and Workplace Participation and Performance.

  • Gunner, L and Gwala, M. 1991. Mosho! Zulu Popular Praises, Michigan State University Press, East Lansing
  •  Makgoba, MW(ed). 1999. African Renaissance. Mafube Publishing(Pty) Ltd, Cape Town
  •  Mbigi, L and Maree, J. 1995 The spirit of African transformation management, Knowledge Resource (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg
  •  Mbigi, L. 1997. African dream in management Knowledge Resource (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg
  •  Mdluli, P. 1987. ”Ubuntu-Botho: Inkatha’s people’s education”, in Transformation, vol.5
  • Bezuidenhout, A and Kenny, B ”The language of flexibility and flexibility of language: post-apartheid South African labour market debates”, paper delivered at the Industrial Relations Association of South Africa, 4-5 October 1999, Cape Town
  • Buhlungu, S ”Democratizing the workplace: worker perspectives on industrial democracy”, in Democracy, Popular Precedents, Culture: the History Workshop, University of the Witwatersrand, 13-15 July 1994
  •  Human, L ”Competencies for managing diversity: what South Africa managers need”, in Steyn, ME and Motshabi, KB (eds) Cultural synergy in South Africa: weaving strands of Africa and Europe, 1996, Knoweldge Resource Pty Ltd, Johannesburg, SA
  • Macun, I. 1995 ”Labour Productivity:Union Strategy and the Workplace”, in SALB 19(4), 19-26
  • Maller, J. 1987 ”Perspectives on productivity in South Africa”, in South African Review 4, Ravan Press (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg
  • Maller, J. 1992 Conflict and co-operation: case studies in workers’ participation, Ravan Press,Johannesburg
  • Mapadimeng, S. 1998. ”Workplace representation through the workplace forums in contemporary South Africa: opportunities and constraints”, in Society in Transition, 29 (3-4), Bureau of Scientific Publications, Pretoria
  • Mapadimeng, S ”Ubuntu culture and economic development in South Africa: A comparative approach”, paper presented at the South African Sociological Association Congress, University of Stellenbosch, June-July 1999
  • Mapadimeng, S ”Work performance and workplace democracy in SA: past experiences, future challenges and implications for the role of Ubuntu value system”, paper presented at the South African Sociological Association congress, University of the Western Cape, July 2-5 2000
  • Mapadimeng, S ”An African culture of Ubuntu and economic development in south Africa in the globalizing era: a theoretical analysis with a focus on the workplace” paper delivered at the South African Sociological Association Congress, University of South Africa, 1-4 July 2001
  • Maree, J and Godfrey, S ”The relationship between participation and performance: case study of a fresh fish processing plant in the Western Cape”, paper delivered at the South African Sociological Association Congress, Rand Afrikaans University, 30-June – 3 July, 1998, Johannesburg
  • Prinsloo, ED. 1998 ”Ubuntu culture and participatory management”, in Coetzee, PH and Roux, APJ Philosophy from Africa, International Thomson Publishing (Southern Africa) Pty Ltd, South Africa
  • Sitas, A. 1996. ”The new tribalism : Hostels amd Violence”, in the Journal of Southern African Studies, vol. 22, No.2
  • Von Holdt, K. ”The challenge of participation”, in SALB, vol.17, no.3, May/June 1993
  • Von Holdt, K. 1996 ”From politics of resistance to politics of reconstruction? The union and ‘ungovernability’ in the workplace?” a conference paper, Sociology of Work Unit, University of the Witwatersrand and the South African Labour Bulletin
  • Von Holdt, K. 2003. Transition from below – forging trade unionism and workplace change in South Africa, University of Natal Press, South Africa
  • Webster, E. 1995. ”Beyond the boundaries: experimenting with organizational change in the South Africa workplace”, Sociology of Work Unit, University of the Witwatersrand
  • Webster, E et al ”Workplace representation: a comment on Chapter 5 of the Labour Relations Bill”, Opinion on the new Labour Relations Bill, Naledi, May 1995
  • Wesbter, E and Macun, I. ”’Actually existing’ co-determination: case studies of South African enterprises”, in National Labour and Economic Development Institute (Naledi), July 1997
  • Wilson, R and Klaaste, A ”Transforming a South African business: the Sowetan story”, in ME Steyn and KB Motshabi (eds) Cultural synergy in South Africa: Weaving strands of Africa and Europe, 1996, Knowledge Resource Pty Ltd, SA.

Seminar Paper 4 Due Date: 11 October 2007

Question:

Can the harnessing of the ubuntu/botho cultural values into the workplace structures, strategies and processes help to enhance stable environment for improved work performance and productivity? Critically discuss.