Technical change and employment in the British printing industry

• Main Author: Haywood, B. W.
• Published: University of Sussex 1985
• Subjects: 331; Labour studies
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.372075

This thesis examines the impact of technical change on employment in the British printing industry. within this overall objective .one of the main purposes is to investigate the attitudes of employers, employees, and equipment suppliers to the introduction of new technology. The research was carried out by a comprehensive literature survey in relation to: international trade, employment, and competitiveness; technical change and industrial relations; management attitudes/behaviour in relation to innovation; and management qualifications. And by in-depth interviews with representatives from the three groups. Much research on the National Newspaper sector in the past has been applied to the whole of printing despite the fact that the unit size of that sector is considerably greater than the rest of the industry; and that· less than 10% of those working in the industry work in the National Newspaper sector. Little research has been done on other areas of the industry. This research is primarily concerned with these other sectors, and the attitudes and behaviour of those working there with regard to technical change. This research has found the analogy with the newspaper industry is misplaced, a substantial majority of employees viewing the introduction of new technology as desirable and vital to maintaining and/or improving competitiveness. The problem as they see it is how this is achieved. In common with other post-war industrial studies on management attitudes and behaviour with regards to innovation and investment, this industry was also found to be generally conservative and short-term in its planning and organisational methods. British manufacturers of printing press and post-press equipment were generally found to-be lacking in innovation and long-term developmental strategies, though British companies pre-press, were found to be at least as R&D intensive and innovative as their overseas competitors.