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Why Do Contractors Contract?: The Theory and Reality of High End Contingent Labor

Part II: Work and Organizations

Description

Semester:

  • Fall 1999

Speakers:

Steve Barley, Management Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Stanford University

Lecture Time:

Fri, October 15, 1999 @ 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Lecture Location:

Room 4212, School of Education

Speaker Webpage(s):

http://engineering.stanford.edu/research/layout.php?sunetid=sbarley

Introduced By:

No introduction available.

Abstract

This research seeks to extend our understanding of the rise of contingent work by exploring the experiences and perspectives of highly skilled technical contractors whose growing presence, while widely acknowledged, has yet to be systematically examined and incorporated into theory. I will first critically review and contrast the prevalent theoretical perspectives on contingent work. Next, using interviews with 52 contractors, I will analyze the contractors’ 92 accounts for why they entered the contingent labor force and how their subsequent experiences altered their point of view. The talk will conclude by exploring the implications of the findings for modifying existing theories of the social organization of contingent work.

Recording & Additional Notes

No recordings available.

Introducer: David Obstfeld, Management & Organizations