ejs

ejs

Volume 4

Q and A with Dr. Marvin Finkelstein

Dr. Marvin Finkelstein is Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He received his Masters Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations and Ph.D. in Sociology from Michigan State University. He was President of the Faculty Senate at SIUE and is Executive Director of the Labor Management Committee Southwestern Illinois. He established the SIUE Problem Solving Center that helps groups solve problems more effectively using cutting edge computer software. He has been an advisor, consultant, and trainer for labor and management for over 20 years. He has coordinated the Construction Foreman Development Program at SIUE for five years and has been an instructor in that program since 1995. He has published several articles focusing on employment and workplace change in the global economy, and is the author of the book Workplace Change in the Global Net-Work Economy (forthcoming).

ejs: You’ve written on the kinds of skills necessary for sociology students to both individually succeed and become agents of social change in what you have called the “Global Net-Work Economy.” Please tell us more.

Dr. Finkelstein: Any discussion of the usefulness of sociology in what I call Global Net-Work Economy and its application to workplace change, will almost invariably lead to the question of relevant skills. What skills do those taking a distinctively sociological approach to workplace change have to offer? This is a legitimate question asked by employers, employees and students. Obviously any discussion of such skills must be linked to educational programs designed to provide a systematic course of study and opportunities to gain “hands-on” experience in the field. It has been recently noted that nationwide, there are 123 sociology departments that have some combination of applied sociology or related courses, internships and practicum, and additional 20 departments with graduate programs with specializations of some kind in applied sociology.¹ Many of these are focused in the fields of health care, community development and criminal justice studies. Almost all of these are concerned in one way or another, with occupational, organizational and employment issues. Some provide more emphasis on workplace issues than others. For example, our undergraduate applied sociology program at SIUE focuses on the field of Employment Relations and is particularly concerned with workplace change in the global economy.² Aside from course requirements in sociological theory, methods and statistics are additional requirements in industrial sociology, employment and workplace change, and an internship course that includes an on-site experience. The following is list of skill areas that have been developed as a direct result of this program. These skills are relevant to all students interested in making being successful individually and as an agent of positive social change:

1.Communication and Writing Skills. Anyone familiar with liberal arts sociology programs knows that sociology students write multiple papers and make numerous presentations during their college career. In fact, there are few other fields of study that can match the extent and depth of experience that most sociology students will have obtained in developing skills in writing and communication. These skills are consistently in the in the top five categories cited by employers as important for employees to possess in order to be successful in their jobs.

2.Conceptual-Analytical Skills. Sociology is about ideas. It is about how these ideas can be applied to make sense of the world around us. It follows the adage, “There is nothing more practical than a good theory.” Thus, conceptual-analytical skills are about understanding the world and the workplace as systems and structures, and how the different parts fit together as well as how conflict may be tearing them apart. It is about seeing the world in a differently way, not taking the world as a given and seeing the possibility for alternatives. Sociological skills equip us with the ability to “frame” and “reframe” workplace and employment issues, critically analyze them, and make recommendations for change.

3.Research Skills. These are the skills in the methods of scientific inquiry; that help us determine how to generate knowledge and how to judge its value and validity. This includes being able to think scientifically and understand the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to scientific processes. For example, a special set of sociological skills include the ability to design and follow through on a research project, to collect data using appropriate methods, analyze the results by applying statistical techniques, and most importantly, make sense of outcomes.

4.Tech-Net Skills. These are skills that flow from the understanding of the role of electronic technology in establishing and maintaining social, organization and workplace networks. These skills have to do not merely with the technical ability to generate data that can be analyzed, processed and transmitted, but more importantly with making appropriate connections and linkages with other sources of information that can enhance its analytical force. These are skills aimed at “getting behind” the data to understand its social context and the ability to act on data from diverse sources that may be used to address a variety of problems and issues.

5. Group Problem Solving Skills. Few problems involve isolated individuals or can be addressed individually. Most of us must work together with others to solve problems. Sociology is about understanding relationships, and how individual behavior is influenced by others. It increases our awareness of how to work in groups, make use of networks and encourage teamwork and foster cooperation. Sociological skills informs us of ways we can work together to solve complex problems in creative and innovative ways.

6. Diversity Skills. These are skills aimed at applying knowledge and awareness concerning the diverse backgrounds of participants based on cultural, class, gender, racial or differences in sexuality. These are skills which sharpen the ability to prevent ethnocentrism, stereotyping and discrimination, while enhancing the capacity to manage conflicts, foster teamwork and cooperation, and provide opportunities for advancement and empowerment.

7.Change Making Skills.These are skills based on the sociological notion of the social construction of workplace change, which suggests that workplace arrangements have less to do with the force of nature and are more of the result of human activity and decision-making. As such, practitioners are encouraged to help rearrange, redesign and redefine workplace roles, structures, culture, technology, labor relations and work and family relationships in more improved and beneficial ways.

ejs: You are an academic specialist and community leader in the area of labor-management relations in the greater Saint Louis area. As an applied sociologist, can you tell us how you practice your trade in these various positions?

Dr. Finkelstein: I practice my trade by applying the sociological perspective to the constantly changing world of work, organizations and the relationship between labor and management. The practical tasks that I perform everyday are always informed by this broad viewpoint. What does that mean? It means that I must convey to groups that may have deep differences that what is happening in the workplace in southwestern Illinois cannot be understood apart from vast changes that are pervasive in the emerging global economy. The issues facing workers and labor and management representatives, such as outsourcing or the rising costs of health care insurance are shot through with the dynamics of global economic forces. To resolve differences between opposing parties common ground must be found. Furthermore, whether the workforce in this region is prepared with the education and skills necessary to meet global competitive challenges has everything to do with typical sociological concerns such as gender, racial and class inequality. Women, minorities, immigrants and people of different cultures and backgrounds are now the fastest growing segments of the labor force. Yet they are the ones who have historically been discriminated against and excluded from obtaining higher level positions of decision making and influence. Moreover, we must depend on these workers to work together in small groups cooperatively if we are to achieve the degree of communication and information sharing necessary to produce high quality products and services creatively and innovatively. My role as an advisor, trainer and facilitator of labor management cooperation requires that I apply my sociological skills in a way that takes into account these challenges.

ejs: You created the Employment Relations Program in Sociology here at SIUE some time ago. Can you tell us about the program, its history, and how it differs from the general sociology degree curriculum?

Dr. Finkelstein: When I was doing my dissertation at Michigan State University, I was asked to teach courses in complex organizations and industrial sociology in the sociology department there. I had already done a Masters Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations at MSU and I realized that many of my students were interested in labor relations but lacked a way to further their interest and study in this area. Since I started my career working with a labor management committee in Lansing, Michigan, I also realized that many of the things I was doing to help that committee was important for me to teach to students interested in this field. So when I came to SIUE, I was able to develop a full-blown curriculum designed to demonstrate to students what they could “do” with sociology and how they could apply sociology to the changing workplace. The program differs from the general major primarily in the requirement to take three courses: 1) Sociology 338 is Industry and Society and is meant to provide a broad overview of problems and challenges facing our “post” industrial society in a global economy. 2) Sociology 431 is Employment and Workplace Changes focuses specifically at the nature of organizations and the way they may be changed to solve problems and make needed improvements. 3) Sociology 433 is the Internship in Employment Relations and it is the capstone of the program designed to provide “hands-on” experience in an actual work setting as well as serving as a stepping-stone for job and career possibilities. Over the years, the internship has proven to be a very successful way for students to crack the job market and make the transition into a job or career easier and smoother.

Footnote

1. Marvin S. Finkelstein, “Employment Relations: A College Curriculum for Teaching Applied Sociology,” Journal of Applied Sociology 6, (1989): 77-88 and see also a further discussion of skills that may be developed by liberal arts, sociology majors in Marvin S. Finkelstein, “Combining the Liberal Arts and Useful Arts: Sociological Skills in the Global Economy,” The American Sociologist 25, no. 3 (Fall 1994): 20-36.

Dr. Marvin Finkelstein can be reached at mfinkel@siue.edu. Make sure to check out his new book on sociology in the global net-work economy. You can also learn more about the SIUE Sociology department's Employment Relations program here.