Neoliberal Platform Capitalism and Subjectivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 795-808
Author(s):  
Fábio Luís Ferreira Nóbrega Franco
Keyword(s):  
Labor Relations ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Application Software ◽  
Precarious Work ◽  
Software Companies ◽  
Peripheral Areas ◽  
The Way

Across the globe, algorithmic technologies have undeniably altered the way labor relations are governed. The purpose of this article is to investigate a particular manifestation of that phenomenon: how, in Brazil, platform capitalism consists in a hybrid rationality whose control over the sphere of work combines new mechanisms of governance with structural characteristics that are particular to a type of precarious work commonly found in peripheral areas of Brazil, known as viração. While such a scenario presents us with a multitude of aspects worthy of consideration, this article focusese on the apparatuses for the psychic management of workers deployed by platform capitalism in Brazil. Within this scope, the article develops a double analysis: first, it examines the forms of subjectivity and the libidinal economy of Brazilian peripheral workers, with a particular emphasis on how certain of their characteristics have been subordinated, controlled, exploited, and ultimately disseminated by application software companies in Brazil; second, and conversely, it evaluates how the form of subjectivity associated with platform capitalism has, through the neoliberal discourse of self-entrepreneurship, impacted viração.

scholarly journals Trabalho digno para quem? Sobre a formalização do trabalho precário no Brasil / Decent work for whom? About the formalization of precarious work in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 580-586
Author(s):  
Marina Batista Chaves Azevedo de Souza ◽  
Viviane Fonseca Santos ◽  
Daniela Da Silva Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Labor Relations ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Decent Work ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
Precarious Work ◽  
Role Of The State ◽  
Labor Legislation ◽  
The Government

A arte desenhada sobre papel simboliza os trabalhadores e as trabalhadoras, e suas constantes lutas sociais pela manutenção dos direitos trabalhistas no Brasil, conquistados na década de 1943, com a Consolidação das Leis Trabalhistas (CLT). Trata-se de um estatuto de Normas Regulamentadoras - NR de relações individuais e coletivas de trabalho para aqueles contratados formalmente com vínculo empregatício. Em 2017, o Governo aprova a Lei nº 13.467, reconhecida como Reforma Trabalhista, a qual exclui mais de cem artigos da CLT, reduz direitos e o papel do Estado em relação à proteção da dignidade do trabalhador. Posteriormente, a classe trabalhadora sofreu novo impacto em 2019, momento em que o Governo Federal promoveu a extinção do Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego (MTE), órgão responsável pela fiscalização e regulamentação das relações de trabalho no país. Isso gerou o fracionamento das atribuições das Leis de trabalho em três pastas ministeriais, fragilizando ainda mais as normas trabalhistas, dificultando a interlocução entre o trabalhador e empregadores e formalizando a precarização do trabalho. Nesse sentido, a imagem representa os desmontes que o trabalhador vem sofrendo, ao longo dos anos, em relação à legislação e aos direitos trabalhistas, mas também à saúde e à previdência social. A flexibilização das relações no ambiente laboral revela uma nova configuração do mundo do trabalho, uma realidade ainda mais perversa, pautada em um discurso neoliberalista de "menos direitos e mais liberdade para o trabalhador", porém, que carrega como consequências a redução do emprego digno, de saúde e segurança para os trabalhadores brasileiros. AbstractThe art drawn on paper symbolizes the workers and their constant social struggles for the maintenance of labor rights in Brazil, conquered in the 1943s by the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT). The CLT is a statute of the Regulatory Norms - NR about individual and collective labor relations for those formally hired with an employment relationship. In the year of 2017, the Government approved the Law 13.467 that implemented a Labor Reform, which excludes more than one hundred articles from CLT reducing many workers rights and the role of the State regarding the protection and dignity of the workers. Subsequently, the working class suffered a new impact in the year of 2019, when the Federal Government extinguished the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE), the institution responsible to monitor and regulate labor relations in Brazil. This fact caused a division of the attributions of the Labor Laws into Three Ministerial Portfolios, further weakening labor standards making it more difficult for workers and employers to communicate with each other, formalizing precarious work. Thus, this image represents the problems workers has been suffering, over the years, due to the lack of labor rights, health and social security. The flexibilization of labor relations reveals a new configuration for the labor society and provides an even more perverse reality based on a neoliberalist discourse that propagates the idea of "less rights and more freedom for the workers", reducing decent employment, health and safety for Brazilian workers.Keywords: Labor Legislation; Occupational Health; Occupational Therapy; Precarious Employment; Work. ResumenEl arte dibujado en papel simboliza a los trabajadores masculinos y femeninos, y sus constantes luchas sociales para el mantenimiento de los derechos laborales en Brasil, logrados en la década de 1943, con la Consolidación de las Leyes Laborales (CLT). Este es un estatuto de Normas Reguladoras - NR de relaciones trabajo individual y colectivo para aquellos formalmente contratados. En 2017, el Gobierno aprobó la Ley 13.467, reconocida como Reforma Laboral, que excluye más de cien artículos del CLT, reduce los derechos y el papel del Estado en relación con la protección de la dignidad de los trabajadores. Posteriormente, la clase trabajadora sufrió un nuevo impacto en 2019, cuando el Gobierno Federal promovió la extinción del Ministerio de Trabajo y Empleo (MTE), el organismo responsable de la inspección y regulación de las relaciones laborales en el país. Esto condujo a la división de las atribuciones de las leyes laborales en tres carteras ministeriales, debilitando aún más las normas laborales, dificultando la comunicación entre trabajadores y empleadores y formalizando el trabajo precario. En este sentido, la imagen representa el desmantelamiento que el trabajador ha estado sufriendo, a lo largo de los años, en relación con la legislación y los derechos laborales, pero también con la salud y la seguridad social. La flexibilización de las relaciones en el entorno laboral revela una nueva configuración del mundo del trabajo, una realidad aún más perversa, basada en un discurso neoliberalista de "menos derechos y más libertad para el trabajador", pero con la consecuencia de reducir el empleo decente, salud y seguridad para los trabajadores brasileños.Palabras clave: Empleo Precario; Legislación Laboral; Salud Laboral; Terapia Ocupacional; Trabajo.      

Translation crowdsourcing and user-translator motivation at Facebook and Skype

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 33-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Mesipuu
Keyword(s):  
Translation Process ◽  
Native Languages ◽  
Software Companies ◽  
Spare Time ◽  
Business Needs ◽  
Do So ◽  
The Way

There is a growing trend among some internet software companies to involve users in the translation process by inviting or enabling them to shape the way the final product reads in their native languages. This is called translation crowdsourcing, and an increasing number of user-translators are willing to dedicate their spare time to contribute to such undertakings. What motivates them to do so, and how could their motivation be boosted? In order to answer these questions, this article looks at Facebook and Skype, examples of the two most common translation crowdsourcing models: open community and closed community. The first part of the article describes these two models, highlighting their principal differences and the business needs that help determine which model is adopted. The second part examines the origins of user-translator motivation and the ways that these two software companies maintain and boost motivation.

Structural and Market Predictors of Corporate Labor Relations Strategies

ILR Review ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
William N. Cooke ◽  
David G. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Capital Investment ◽  
Mixed Strategy ◽  
Labor Relations ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Import Penetration ◽  
Logit Estimation ◽  
Union Avoidance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Market Pressures ◽  
A Company

The authors develop a model predicting which of three broad labor-relations strategies—union avoidance, union-management collaboration, or a mixed strategy combining elements of union avoidance and collaboration—a company will adopt. A multinomial logit estimation using data on 58 large unionized manufacturing corporations confirms that market pressures and structural characteristics of the company are important predictors of strategy choice. Specifically, the worse the market conditions (as gauged by import penetration and industry employment), the more likely executives will choose union avoidance over collaboration and mixed strategies. Collaboration is more likely to be chosen the greater the percent of plants unionized and the higher the ratio of cost of goods to sales. The choice of the mixed strategy is more likely the higher the labor intensity, capital investment, and number of plants.

Accounting for the Proliferation of Two-Tier Wage Settlements in the U.S. Airline Industry, 1983–1986

ILR Review ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Airline Industry ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Labor Relations ◽  
Competitive Pressure ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The U.S ◽  
The Way

This study examines the wave of two-tier wage settlements in the U.S. airline industry that occurred from 1983 through 1986. Although two-tier plans spread throughout the industry, it was the more prosperous carriers that led the way and that were most apt to negotiate them—often over considerable union opposition. One inducement for introducing two-tier plans was competitive pressure arising from divergent labor costs in the industry, but carriers were also influenced by such potential benefits as improved morale, a chance to alter the length of wage progressions, advantages in future bargaining, and greater financial stability in the eyes of financial backers. The author sees the rash of two-tier settlements as part of a larger contest to shape labor relations in the re-consolidated, post-deregulation airline industry.

scholarly journals Applied the Software of MATLAB to Calculate the Critical Clearing Time in Power System

2020 ◽  
pp. 25-35
Author(s):  
Ming-Jong Lin ◽  
Jeeng-Min Ling
Keyword(s):  
Power System ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Application Software ◽  
Equal Area ◽  
Protection Relay ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Calculation Process ◽  
Clearing Time ◽  
Swing Equation ◽  
The Way

Aims: to avoid improper critical clearing time values due to clerical errors during the artificial calculation process, so that takes advantage of MATLAB application software to compile with those equations such as power angle, swing equation, equal area criterions, etc. to calculate of critical clearing time. Study Design: This article starts introduction with what the way of the calculation such as power angle, swing equation, equal area criterions, etc in literature, and referred lots of the latest literature to develop. Place and Duration of Study: The setting of the critical clearing time plays an important role in the power system. The start-up time of any protection relay must be shorter than the critical clearing time; otherwise the fault will expand and cause serious damage when the system fails. Therefore, it is an important question the set time of the protection relay needed to caution in planning design. Methodology: To use MATLAB application software links with above equations to compile the program the calculation of critical clearing time. Results: The program has been proved very effective and accurate for calculating the reasonable setting value of proportion relay, the same time it would shortened of assignment time by design planners. Conclusion: Computerized operating procedures can be used to avoid improper critical clearing time values due to clerical errors during the artificial calculation process.

scholarly journals Innovation in the Business Sector: Where There's a Will There's a Way. Managers’ Perception of Science and R&D and Firms’ Engagement in Innovation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Rey-Rocha ◽  
M. Isabel González-Bravo ◽  
Irene López-Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Scientific Culture ◽  
Innovation Research ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Corporate Innovation ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes Towards Science ◽  
The Way

This research considers the hypothesis that firms’ propensity to undertake innovation activities is linked to variables related to their perception of science, their appraisal of the benefits and risks of R&D investing, and their attitude towards the role science plays within the firm, besides their economic and structural characteristics. We explore an empirical approach to studying the implications of managers’ perceptions and attitudes towards science and R&D on firms’ engagement in innovation. Research is based on the survey ‘Scientific culture, perception and attitudes towards science and innovation in the business sector’. Results evidence that corporate innovation decisions are not just a matter of money, and confirms the combined effect of a firm’s economic characteristics and perception of science on innovation engagement. Results confirm that managers’ attitude towards science and R&D is related to firms’ commitment to innovation, suggesting that their attitudes and behaviour in relation to science and investment in R&D should be given a more prominent role in S&T and innovation studies and in developing models of innovation in the future. This study provides some important implications for the management of innovation in the business sector. It stresses that innovation is related with managers having a perception of science and R&D that paves the way for the allocation of a firm’s resources to activities oriented towards knowledge generation and innovation. The results obtained here are still important regarding the way to address possible initiatives aimed at encouraging innovation in the business sector.

Making Strategy

2019 ◽  
pp. 23-57
Author(s):  
Richard Whittington
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Alasdair Macintyre ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Anthony Giddens ◽  
Is Strategy ◽  
Strategy As Practice ◽  
The Way

This chapter introduces the theoretical framework for Opening Strategy. The book builds particularly on the practice theories of Anthony Giddens and Alasdair MacIntyre. Giddens identifies the mechanisms of practice change in the levering of structural conditions; MacIntyre locates the motivations for change in both instrumentalism and idealism. This chapter constructs from Giddens and MacIntyre a 4P model of Strategy-as-Practice, in which praxis, practices, practitioners, and profession are all important for change in Strategy’s macro practices. The Strategy profession is structurally exposed to organizational, cultural, and technological forces for practice change. Its structural characteristics of precariousness and permeability influence the way in which change comes about. Ultimately, however, it is strategy consultants and corporate strategists who enact new practices on the ground. Practice change is produced by the agency of individuals and small groups negotiating structural opportunities and constraints according to principles that are both instrumental and idealistic.

Labored Relations: Corporate Citizenship, Labor Unions, and Freedom of Association

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cedric E. Dawkins
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Business Ethics ◽  
Labor Unions ◽  
Labor Relations ◽  
Corporate Citizenship ◽  
Labor Rights ◽  
Freedom Of Association ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Way

ABSTRACT:Globalization has brought increased attention to the notion that labor rights such as freedom of association—the right of workers to organize a union—are fundamental human rights. However, the vigorous opposition to freedom of association by US firms is largely ignored in the business ethics literature and exacerbated by compensatory corporate citizenship rating mechanisms that tend to mask labor rights deficiencies. I argue that because freedom of association is a hypernorm, instrumental to fully realizing basic human rights, labor rights and human rights are largely inseparable. Thus, respect for labor rights is a non-substitutable requisite of corporate citizenship. I conclude by providing examples of corporate labor relations strategies that respect freedom of association and business firms that are leading the way.

scholarly journals Investigating song-based language teaching and its effect on lexical learning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Friederike Anna Gerda Tegge
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Cued Recall ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Lexical Learning ◽  
The Way

<p>The present thesis addresses the following question: Can popular songs as they are currently used in second and foreign language classrooms benefit lexical learning? Lexical learning is defined as the acquisition of new vocabulary as well as the consolidation and further elaboration of familiar words and phrases. To answer this research question, three methodologically distinct studies are reported.  In the first study an international questionnaire explored teacher cognitions as well as actual teaching practices involving songs. The responses of 568 informants in 41 countries indicate that a majority of respondents believe in the usefulness of songs for language learning and that many respondents utilize songs in class for clearly defined pedagogical purposes, including vocabulary learning. The questionnaire also elicited information from the respondents about the way they incorporate songs in lessons, including details about how often a song is played and what types of form- and meaning-focused activities are used to engage learners with the lyrics of a song.  The second study investigated the lexical characteristics of teacher-selected songs and the vocabulary learning opportunities they afford. For this purpose, a corpus of 635 songs used for ESL/EFL purposes, comprising 177,384 tokens, was compiled and analysed. Results indicate that teacher-selected songs are short, repetitive and relatively undemanding as far as lexis is concerned compared to other authentic text genres. Knowledge of the 4000 most frequent word families of English provides 98% coverage of the running words in this song corpus. Little difference was found in terms of the overall vocabulary demands between songs intended for use with beginners, intermediate and advanced learners.  The third study investigates whether participating in a song-based lesson results in higher verbatim text retention compared to a lesson based on a poem or a prose text. For the sake of ecological validity, the procedures and the materials used in the classroom intervention study were informed by the findings of the teacher questionnaire (study one) and the song corpus analysis (study two). Results indicate that a song-based language lesson but also a poem-based lesson result in significantly higher recognition and cued recall of verbatim text than a lesson based on a prose text.  In response to the overall question, this thesis provides evidence that songs as they currently tend to be used by language teachers around the world indeed benefit certain aspects of lexical learning, perhaps in particular the entrenchment in memory of already (half-)familiar words in association with their phraseological patterning. It is argued that, while certain structural characteristics of songs (and poems) have the potential of rendering text (and the lexis therein) memorable, it is the way that songs tend to be exploited in the classroom that capitalizes on this mnemonic potential.</p>

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