Research and Development in Work and Technology

European Problem Areas of Coordinating Research and Development Strategies in Work and Technology Introduction Hans Pomschlegel, Dortmund, Germany 1. Initiative and Organizers During several meetings in Stockholm between the Swedish-German steering group of the Swedish Work Environment Fund (Arbetsmiljofonden) and the Project Ad­ ministration for Work and Technology (Projekttrager Arbeit und Technik) of the DLR it was common opinion that the coordination of some programme areas and projects of both sides, and the cooperation within them, showed good progress and fruitful results. Contacts and cooperation between research institutions and researchers were also well underway. But there was never time to discuss political, strategic and operational approaches in the formulation, interpretation and implementation of research and development (R&D) strategies in the common fields of activities, labelled "quality of working life", "humanization", anthropocentric design concepts, work and technology, to mention the most common terms in English. Last year the Sozialakademie Dortmund proposed to the Swedish and German parties to organize a workshop devoted to this cause. The idea was immediately taken up; the German side suggested that such a gathering should not only express German and Swedish voices but should be extended to a wider, European forum. The workshop could then better deal with the relations between the relevant national, European and possibly international programmes. It would allow deeper insights into the underlying political structures and mechanisms, the system of cooperation and conflict solving between publicly financed programmes, promoted institutions and expected results.

European Problem Areas of Coordinating Research and Development Strategies in Work and Technology.- Plenary Session Goals and Strategies of the Labour Market Parties and Institutions Involved.- Trends and Perspectives in Work Life.- Trade Unions’ Objectives and Demands for Research and Development in the Field of Work and Technology.- The Role of Research in the Development of Work and Technology.- European and National Programmes in the Field of Work and Technology: Achievements, Shortcomings, Perspectives.- Worker Training: Competing in the New International Economy.- Plenary Discussion.- Plenary Discussion of the Role of Labour Market Parties and Institutions Involved.- Contributions to Parallel Sessions A: Economic Versus Human and Social Goals in Work and Technology Research.- Developing Job Content Raises the Quality of Production.- Occupational Safety and Economic Efficiency ― Procedures for the Extended Economic Efficiency Calculations.- Workers’ Participation ― An Instrument to Achieve Productivity, Innovation with Human and Social Goals.- Productivity ― Working Conditions ― Environment ― Search for an Integrated Concept.- Intangible Assets: The Capital Aspect of Cost-Benefit Analysis.- The Contribution of Practice Oriented Promotion of Research and Development to a Modern Evaluation of Work.- B: Integrated Concepts of Health Prevention, Industrial Safety and Ecological Requirements (including the European Dimension).- Integrated Concepts of Health Prevention, Industrial Safety and Ecological Requirements.- Programme against Musculoskeletal Injuries.- Prevention in the Programme on Work and Technology ― Contribution with Regard to Safety at Work in Practice.- Dangerous Substances Database of the West German Federal States G Albracht in cooperation with.- Human Work in Advanced Technical Environments and Anthropocentric Production Systems in the Context of the CEC Monitor/FAST Programme.- New Preventive Concepts in Occupational Safety and Health.- Strategies for Improving Occupational Health and Occupational Safety in Medium-Sized Enterprises ― Approach of the RKW ― the Productivity Center of the Federal Republic of Germany.- C: Holistic and Innovative Concepts of Work and Technology.- Policy Considerations for Anthropocentric Research and Development.- The LOM Programme ― Swedish Experiences and Assessments.- The Learning Organization: Swedish Concepts ― Aims and Experiences from two of the Swedish Work Environment Fund’s R&D Programmes.- Working Structure and Production Planning in Accordance with the Employees’ Participation ― An Integral Approach ―.- Material Flow Analysis, Sociotechnology and Naturally Grouped Assembly Work for Automobiles and Trucks.- The Need for Holistic and Innovative Research: Approaches in Studying Work.- Assessing Work Organisation Needs in the Light of New Technology.- Sociocultural Change and Unity of Purpose in Policies Concerning the Organisation of Work.- Integrated Work and Technology Concept in Craft Trade ― Initial Regional Experience During the Establishment of a Bremen State Program “Work and Technology”.- D: Strategies to Transfer and to Disseminate Knowledge and Know How in the Field of Work and Technology.- Better Knowledge Transfer to Support Changes in Working Life.- The Swedish Commission for the Development of Competence and Skill in Working Life.- Implementation and Dissemination of the Results of Research into Occupational Safety and Health ― Selected Examples from Enterprises.- Implementation and Dissemination of Acquired Scientific Knowledge and Practical Experience within Enterprises in the Field of Work and Technology: Progress and Problems (The Viewpoint Held by German Employers).- Research and Development in the Field of Work and Technology.- The HABUT-Program and its Development Measures.- Human-Oriented Organizational Design and Management in Plants with an Advanced CNC-Technology ― Research Findings from 29 Swedish Enterprises.- Reports on the Parallel Sessions.- Reports on the Parallel Sessions.- Closing Session Work and Technology Programmes ― The Need for Adjustment and Innovation.- Today’s Work and Tomorrow’s Work ― Lessons from an ILO Project.- Work and Technology Programmes ― The Need for Adjustment and Innovation.- Some Concluding Remarks.- A Short Summary and Tentative Conclusions of a European Workshop.- Plenary Discussion.- Plenary Discussion of Work and Technology Programmes.- Annex.- National and European Programmes of Research and Development in Work and Technology.- List of Authors.