Dunlop’s System Theory (1958) Theories of Industrial Relations

Prepared By

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Manu Melwin JoyAssistant Professor

Ilahia School of Management Studies

Kerala, India.Phone – 9744551114

Mail – manu_melwinjoy@yahoo.com

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• In this perspective,

Dunlop analyzes

industrial relations

systems as a

subsystem of society.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• An industrial relations system at

any one time in its development is

regarded as comprised of certain

actors, certain contexts, an

ideology which binds the industrial

relations system together and a

body of rules created to govern

the actors at the workplace and

work community.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• IR = f(a,t,m,p,i)

– a = Actors, employers,

workers and government.

– t = technological context.

– M = Market context.

– p = Power context.

– i = Ideological context that

helps to bind them together.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• a = refers to the undernoted

actors in the IR drama.

– A hierarchy of managers and their

representatives in supervision.

– A hierarchy of workers and any

spokesmen.

– Specialized government agencies

created by the first private

agencies.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• The significant aspects of

the environment in which

the actors interact are :

– The technological

characteristics of the

organization, the workplace

and work community.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• The significant aspects

of the environment in

which the actors

interact are :

– The market or budgetary

constraints which

impinge on the actors.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• The significant aspects

of the environment in

which the actors

interact are :

– The locus and

distribution of power in

the larger society.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)

• The significant aspects of

the environment in which

the actors interact are :

– An ideology or set of ideas

and beliefs, commonly held

by the actors, helps to bind

or integrate the system

together as an entity.

Dunlop’s System Theory (1958)