A flexible future?

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This comprehensive work explores the multifaceted concept of flexibility within various industries and contexts. It begins with an examination of the flexibility debates, highlighting unresolved issues and the implications for organized society. The discussion progresses through themes such as flexible specialization and the determinants of flexible firms, illustrating the evolution of management practices and workplace politics, particularly in Sweden. The text delves into case studies, including production engineering at the Volvo Uddevalla Plant and the changing dynamics of wages and work practices in North America's automobile industry. It also addresses corporate strategy and employee involvement at Ford UK, as well as buyer-supplier relations in the UK automotive sector. Further chapters investigate strategic management decisions regarding subcontracting, technical change in the British clothing industry, and employment relations in the water industry. The book also covers quality and workforce strategies in the European iron and steel industry, the impact of new technology on British coal, and the interplay of working time and industrial relations in British engineering. Additionally, it reflects on human resource management and labor flexibility through cross-national studies in Canada and the UK, and examines workplace flexibility in Canadian hospitals. The work concludes with insights into European policy perspe