social theory excercise

Throughout the history, division of labour is the origins of conflict and problem around the world that is according to Karl Marx sociology theory. Marx think that Alienation is making the trouble to the society. Alienation means, separating those who work and those who own the work. Example that can describe this theory is shareholder system. Shareholders are the owner of the company. they only sit down and they will get dividend from the company while the worker of that company works hard produce product. So the worker and those who own the work is separated or alienated. Marx also talk about capitalist exploitation. Capitalist system is to gain profit at much as possible. This result in exploiting workers by giving low salary, de-skilling them and treat workes as a tools. Marx think that this Capitalism system is a threat to the society. So for Marx, this division is enforced for the benefit of the owners so they can exploit working class (worker) for gaining profit and other means. About Durkheim, Emil Durkheim believe on Functionalism. Functionalism means everything happens for a reason. Durkheim see division of work as natural growth of society in which different people have different interest and skills. Durkheim explained about mechanical and organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity comes from homogenity of the people, people feel connected through same work, same religion and same education. Meanwhile organic solidarity comes from interdependance that comes from specialization of work. it can also be said the dependance individuals have on each other because of the work environtment.
Scientific management (taylorism) can be described as breaking down of job and task "fragmentation", cutting job into smaller and smaller task. Scientific management also stated that planning and excecution is must be separated. So worker just work no need to think about anything else. This theory see workers like robot just do do and do repeatedly. De-Skilling also exist in this theory. de-skilling means employee didnt enhance the worker skill by giving them training. they de-skilling them by giving same type of work that must be done repeatedly. This will cause de-skilling of the workers. Not only de-skilling, lower job learning time and continual separation of the task also there. lower job learning time means, there is very less training for the employees. The task is also being separated and spread throughout the workers. one particular workers will only work in one task repeatedly. Psychological humanism can be described as theory X and Y. Theory Y believe that all human is good in nature, but how they grow up and the environtment that makes them bad. Meanwhile theory X believe that all human is bad in nature. Doesn't mind wherever they grow up on any environtment. They will eventually show their bad nature. Similarity of Psychological humanism and scientific management is both of them try to manipulate human nature. Overall, scientific management sees workers as tools or robot that only exist to work and produce profit for the employers.

In this case malaysian Proton company that will be explained in term of those 3 theory. Proton practice scientific management (taylorism) at their factory. all the work is separated into smaller task per one worker. Marx theory of alienation also happen in this proton production line. workers and who own the works are at separate entity. Durkheim's theory is little implemented as well here. Workers of proton have solidarity between them because of the work environtment.

Refference

1. Korczynski,M (2006). Social Theory At Work. New York: OXFORD. 26-88.
2. Churchich,N (1990). Marxism and Alienation. London: Associated University Pressed. 25-51.
3. Giddens,A (1971). Capitalism and Modern Social Theory. United Kingdom: Press Syndicate Of the University Of Cambridge. 65-82.
4. Taylor,F (2003). Scientific Management: Early Sociology of Management and Organizations. New York: Routledge. 9-11.
5. Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn. Bhd. (2012). Proton . Available: http://corporate.proton.com/. Last accessed 29th Oct 2012.