Industrial Sociology need, applications, definition, meaning, and functions; Weber's Bureaucracy advantages and disadvantages Organizational Behavior Personnel management Industrial Relations Labor Welfare

1. Industrial Sociology
Dr. M. Swarna Latha
Chair Person
Board of Studies
Dept. of Sociology and Social Work
Kakatiya University
Warangal, T.S.

2. Objectives
• The objective of this unit is to make the
learner to understand the concept of
Industrial Sociology and its importance, need,
objectives, scope and its relation with other
disciplines. Further, to give a succinct note
on the philosophical grounding of the
discipline.

3. Introduction
• After the industrial revolution, the shape and nature of
production of goods and services in factories;
• large scale production of goods and services.
• Engagement of large number of people in the industry
a community within the community.
• New form of social relations that has greater influence
on the power, production, people, and socio-economic
and political spaces of the society.
• Altered inter relations within the society - a matter of
research for the social scientists to establish causal
relations

4. Need of Industrial Sociology
• It became necessary to predict the outcomes,
to solve present and future problems of the
industry,
• For managements to exercise power and
improve productivity and
• For policy makers for the betterment of the
industrial relations, and improve the
productivity and keep the economy on
development path.

5. Objectives
• to study the industrialized societies
characterized by radical changes in technology,
globalization, labor markets, management
practices, employment relations and their
effects on society. It focus on how the changes
are affecting the experiences of individuals and
families in shaping the Industrial and social
worlds and patterning the inequalities in the
modern societies.

6. Applications of Industrial Sociology
• It can be used to define various industrial relations
• It can be used to gauge sociopolitical as well as economic
changes and its effects on the industrial society.
• It helps to formulate policies for the social development
• It can be used to define various trade relations
• It helps in defining and determining various possible
industrial and economic relations inside or outside the
country
• Trained sociologists can be created and they may help in
conducting various researches and training.
• It can be used as a source of trained personnel’s for various
social institutes.

7. Industrial Sociology Etymology
• The term Industrial Sociology is a combination of two words Industry and
Sociology.
• The word Industry comes from Latin word Industria means “Diligence”,
“Hard work”.
• In economic context it is an organized activity of a group of manufacturers
or service providers that produce a particular kind of goods or services.
•
• The term Sociology is itself consists of two words. Latin word ‘Societus’
means Society and Greek word ‘logos’ means Science or Study. Thus the
etymological meaning of Sociology is the “Science or Study of Society”.
• For Maciver and Page “sociology is about social relationships, the network
of relationships we call society”.

8. Industrial Sociology Definition-1
• Parker, and Brown posited that Industrial
Sociology is concerned with how the economic
subsystem is related to other subsystems, how
the subsystem is structured in terms of
particular work organization and roles and how
persons fit into these roles. This definition
establishes the economic dimension of the
subject. It looks at the subject as a subsystem
within the larger economic system.

9. Industrial Sociology Definition-2
Millar and Form further expanded the scope
saying that Industrial Sociology is a substantive
area of general sociology which might more
accurately be termed the sociology of work
organizations or the sociology of economy. This
definition offers the perspective of industrial
sociology in a broader sense. It identified the
subject within the broad area of general
sociology implying the social and economic
dimensions of the subject area.

10. Meaning of Industrial Sociology
• The literal meaning of industrial sociology is the study of industrial society.
• The industrial society is a mini society within the society but has a huge impact on
the society directly and indirectly.
• The interpersonal relations both formal and informal as well as communications
are the crux of the study
• The study also includes the channels of authority, exercise of power, levels of
management, employee and management relations,
• Rights and responsibilities related to job, recruitment, training, induction,
personnel career growth, labor welfare and such other measures in the industry.
• The industry and economics go together in the economic development of the
nation.
• Economic development in turn decides the face and fate of the people of the
nation.
• Economic relations impacts the power relations. Power relations decide the social
relations. Thus there is a common thread running between industrial relations and
general social relations that impact the lives of the people.
• Industrial sociology is thus considered as a study of sociology of work and social
relations within the industry.

11. Functions of Industrial Sociology
• Industrial Sociology is the study of
• people’s Interactions in an industry.
• Motivation and behavior of people
• The hierarchy and flow of power,
• Roles and responsibilities,
• Group dynamics,
• Formal and informal communication
• Helps to better understand the Structure of Industry
• Studies inter and intra industrial relations within a geo-
political and social environment.

12. Industrial Sociology :Max Weber
Features of Weberian model of Bureuacracy
• Max weber considered
as the father of Modern
day Bureaucracy
• Division of work
• Administrative
Hierarchy
• Rules & Regulations
Formal procedures
• Office Records
• Impersonal conduct
nature of Personnel
Service
• Permanency of Job
position but not the
person,
• Rights and
Responsibilities are
attached to the position
but not to the person

13. Features of Weberian model of
Bureuacracy
• Division of work,
• Administrative Hierarchy,
• Routinized
• Simplified
• Written down Rules & Regulations,
• Impersonal nature of Personnel Service
• Permanency of Job position but not the person,
• Rights and responsibilities are attached to the position
but not to the person,
• Office Records,
• Formal procedures

14. Advantages of Weber Bureaucracy
• Written down strict rules and regulations,
• Higher efficiency,
• Strict Discipline
• Clearly defined roles eliminating role ambiguity,
• Simplified
• Smooth flow of direction
• Effective personnel management
• Smooth transition of power and authority
• Uninterrupted administrative channels
• Impersonal relations rules out nepotism, prejudices, biased
practices and human fallacies
• Clear documentation ensures to eliminate cheating, corruption and
mis-management of finances and personnel management
• predictability of the action outcome and minimum level of conflict.

15. Dis-Advantages of Weber Bureaucracy
• Red-tapism is the major drawback of this model.
• Favoritism
• Low Morale of the Staff,
• Rigid Rules often suffocates genuine clientele,
• Closed and difficult to approach,
• Dehumanizing
• lack of innovative approach,
• delay in communication.
• Lack of initiative and innovation.
• Often lack inclusiveness of clientele
• There is no scope for emotional intelligence which is essential in delivering
public services.
• In the long run all these factors lead to greater inefficiency of the
organization especially in public enterprises.