[EN]Edition Sigma

englischThis book, now in its second edition, centres on the question of how the working population’s opportunities for participation develop under the conditions of flexible work, project work or remote work. Its authors adopt a comparative perspective in their approach to addressing this question, [...]

englischThe concern among some during the 1932/1933 elections that ‘Hitler means war’ was confirmed when military spending increased considerably under the National Socialist government. Systematic rearmament helped reduce unemployment, but except for the establishment of the Kraftdurch Freude [...]

Der schillernde Begriff der Grand Challenges ist in aller Munde und Grund für eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit diesem forschungsleitenden Konzept. Die Buchbeiträge widmen sich dem Thema sowohl in theoretischer Hinsicht, als auch mit Blick auf die Domänen Gesundheit, Digitalisierung und Umwelt.

englischThis study focuses on corporate negotiation of business travel. Although business travel goes beyond the regulations of employed work, which indicates corporate agreement processes, these necessary agreement procedures have undergone little empirical investigation until now. This qualitative [...]

englischThis study is the first to place development policy volunteer services in the context of fundamental social theory. Using the theory of reciprocity, it identifies the deeper levels of logic on which development policy volunteer services are based. In doing so, it analyses ambiguous and [...]

englischOf late, media coverage of anxiety and insecurity proliferating among the German population has been considerable. However, the social sciences have only recently explored these tendencies more profoundly, e.g. with respect to fears about social decline among the middle classes or [...]

Dieser Band versammelt Beiträge des Soziologen Rudi Schmiede aus den letzten vier Jahrzehnten, die der theoretischen und empirischen Analyse des Wandels von Arbeit und Beschäftigung vor dem Hintergrund von Umbrüchen in der kapitalistischen Produktionsweise gewidmet sind. Besonderes Gewicht liegt [...]

englischIn the 2020s, the number of the over 60s in the workforce will continue to increase. The book ‘Arbeit und Altern 2020’ (Work and Ageing 2020) takes stock of the state of knowledge on work and age and ageing, and on progress in the areas of work design and human resources. It presents [...]

englischWork and play are often regarded as opposites: play as people’s freedom and ability to spend their time as they choose, and work as being subordinate to it as a means to an end. As play can be repeated without any serious repercussions, this has earned it the reputation of lacking [...]

englischDigitalisation is creating new challenges and opportunities for the world of work and labour policy. The contributions in this volume discuss key developments in this field and labour policy strategies for dealing with the digitalisation of work: the shifting of spatial and temporal [...]

englischJudging from both political and academic discussions and general practices among the employed, we can conceive the organisation of working times as being scattered into heterogeneous ‘landscapes’ of working hours. Empirical evidence on employment in bigger enterprises is much more [...]

englisch‘Augmented Ergonomics’ is a synthesis of social sciences and engineering approaches. It enriches the field of human factors and ergonomics in both theory and practice. Human work is characterised by continuous changes in organisation and technology. The increasing pace of change in the [...]

englischAgainst the backdrop of the discussion on Industry 4.0, this book investigates the car industry’s experiences with automation so far and its impact on work. The book’s examination of developments at Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen over the past 100 years generates surprising insights into [...]

Die Automobilzulieferer im Allgemeinen und die kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen im Besonderen spielen für den Automobilstandort Deutschland eine wichtige, häufig unterschätzte Rolle. Allerdings befinden sich diese Betriebe vor dem Hintergrund paradigmatischer Veränderungen von [...]

englischIs technological control taking the place of what appeared uncannily uncontrollable? Or is it itself becoming uncanny? Two seemingly contradictory narratives have shaped the history and theory of technology. The narrative of disenchantment describes how nature, experienced as something [...]

Entwicklungspolitische Freiwilligendienste sind nicht nur Lernprogramme für junge Erwachsene – ebenso wenig sind es Hilfsprogramme für die Einsatzstellen. Vor dem Hintergrund ambivalenter Anforderungen und Erwartungen sind Freiwillige und MitarbeiterInnen der Einsatzstellen aufgefordert, miteinander [...]

englischThe new form of welfare state, which encourages people to actively seek work, and its organisations, which are run according to economic criteria, are the results of far-reaching reforms. What effect have those reforms had on the day-to-day running of advisory and employment organisations? [...]

englischBased on the examination of two vocational training schemes in the field of industry-related services, this study shows that vocationalism as an institutional category is still relevant under circumstances of network-based value creation. Nevertheless, there is no network-specific regulation [...]

englischIn order to calculate the unintended consequences of their policies, governments conduct comprehensive assessments of the impact of legislation. In doing so, they have independent regulatory oversight bodies monitor them on an increasingly frequent basis. However, in what ways do these [...]

englischBased on extensive public administration and administrative law analyses, this book deals with the administration of migration and integration at federal, state and municipal level. It examines the individual levels of the federal state in terms of the essential administrative tasks relating [...]

Nur in durchschnittlich einem von zehn ‚betriebsratsfähigen’ Betrieben (mit mindestens fünf Beschäftigten) existiert tatsächlich ein Betriebsrat (BR). Warum in den anderen neun kein BR gegründet wird, ist also höchst erklärungsbedürftig, doch die Forschung über BR-Gründungen ist – anders als jene [...]

englischHow do you set a counterpoint to capitalism? Community supported agriculture has developed coping strategies which enable it to bridge the contradictions between social and economic requirements. It can thus bind its members and make itself less dependent on competition and price pressure. [...]

englischThis publication presents the results of a study on the integration of refugees into education, training and work in Berlin. The research is based on qualitative interviews with refugees and representa-tives of schools, companies, civil society projects and administrative bodies. The study [...]

englischOriginally, education was in the hands of churches for centuries but later on became a fundamental feature of the modern state. Therefore, this study interprets the institutionalisation of national school systems as a process of secularisation and reconstructs six typical secularisation [...]

englischThis company case study analyses the implementation of one of the largest wage policy projects in recent years in unusual empirical depth and with great sensitivity. With the existing social order being called into question, conflict has arisen between companies, employees and their [...]

englischFor many years, German municipal offices were regarded as the model of success in terms of modernising local administrative services in order to cater more to ordinary citizens. However, as a result of long waiting times and complaints from staff about deteriorating working conditions, [...]

englischBureaucracy—a burden without an end? Regulation—why are we dissatisfied with state laws and regulations? Administration—why are digitalisation and practicality, customer service culture and proximity to citizens not making progress? The refugee and coronavirus crises have ruthlessly exposed [...]

englischThere is now ample evidence of a rise in ‘non-standard work arrangements’ in many industrialised economies, yet only rarely does theoretical and empirical work probe the question of why the risk of temporary employment varies. Focusing on temporary employment, the author extends the scope of [...]

englischThis volume contains selected contributions from the European Cluster Days 2015, which took place in March 2015 in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The conference was organised by France Cluster, which is the network of French cluster initiatives, and the European Competence and [...]

englischThis book investigates the mechanisms employed in authoritarian countries to generate consent at the workplace level, using the examples of automobile plants in China and Russia.

It focuses on three main mechanisms used to create consent: socialisation mechanisms responsible for the [...]

englischTransnational industrial relations are becoming increasingly significant due to the internationalisation of companies. Corporate management, as a key player in industrial relations, is therefore being faced with new cross-border challenges. This book fills a gap in research and provides an [...]

englischThe UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has existed for over ten years. What is the state of play with regard to disabled individuals’ human right to work as stipulated by the CRPD? How open, inclusive and accessible are the job market and working environments for [...]

englischThe digital revolution connects people, organisations, machines or simple objects from daily life and affects all areas of life to a varying degree. Artificial intelligence and autonomous technological systems have a direct impact on an individual’s autonomy, which raises new questions in [...]

Niemand kann in modernen Gesellschaften leben, ohne auf vielfältigste Weise an der Wirtschaft teilzunehmen. Doch gemessen an dieser universellen Bedeutung befasst sich die Philosophie heute vergleichsweise wenig mit der Wirtschaft, und wenn sie es tut, stehen oft Fragen der Wirtschafts- oder [...]

englischThis book provides information on fundamental developments in crises and uncertainties in modern societies, and highlights the importance of those involved in the field of security, such as the police, civil society groups, and those who offer assistance in disaster situations and in [...]

Seit Jahren steht der Allgemeine Soziale Dienst (ASD) – das Kernstück des kommunalen sozialen Dienstleistungsnetzes – unter einem erheblichen Entwicklungsdruck: Er muss steigende Fallzahlen und erhöhte Fallkomplexität bewältigen, neue fachliche Trends und gesellschaftliche Bedarfe flexibel [...]

An die Evaluierung des entwicklungspolitischen Freiwilligendienstes weltwärts schloss sich ein umfangreicher Follow-up-Prozess an. Dieser Sammelband stellt nicht nur die Ergebnisse dieses Prozesses und die damit verbundenen Änderungen im weltwärts-Programm vor. Er dokumentiert auch den [...]

Der Politik- und Verwaltungsforscher Werner Jann, dessen 65. Geburtstag den Anlass für diese Festschrift gab, hat seine wissenschaftliche Arbeit immer wieder an der Frage orientiert, wie die Leistungsfähigkeit des Staates von organisatorischen Grundlagen abhängt. Welche institutionellen Strukturen [...]

englischParty democracy is in a good state of health, at least that is what research into political parties would have us believe. According to such research, there is neither discontent nor crisis among political parties. However, using new studies and statistics, this book proves that these [...]

Seit mehr als zwei Jahrzehnten befindet sich der öffentliche Dienst in einem Prozess fortschreitender Ökonomisierung. Im Zentrum der Sparpolitik steht die Reduktion der Personalkosten. Dabei stellt die Regulierung des Erwerbsausstiegs ein zentrales Steuerungselement dar. Einerseits werden [...]

englischAbout 30 years ago, the metaphor of ‘the dark sides of consumer behaviour’ was introduced in consumer behaviour research. Consumers sometimes knowingly place themselves in the wrong with their behaviour (as in the case of fraudulent returning of products, for example), but regard their [...]

englischHungary and Poland have been heavily criticised for some time now because they pursue an ‘illiberal’ form of democracy and, in doing so, violate the principles at the heart of the EU. The combination of the right-wing populism prevalent in these countries and their tendency towards illiberal [...]

Nach anhaltender Kritik am traditionellen deutschen Weg zur Professur, der vor allem über die Habilitation führte und als zu starr und auch international nicht wettbewerbsfähig galt, wurde das wissenschaftliche Karrieresystem Anfang des vorigen Jahrzehnts flexibilisiert. Im Zentrum der Reform stand [...]

englischThe Federal Republic of Germany is dependent on the import of mineral resources. The extraction of these raw materials often occurs in countries which rarely benefit from their own natural resources. Due to rising commodity prices, more intense competition for resources and new geopolitical [...]

englischTechnology assessment (TA) is committed to impartial expertise as well as basic democratic values. And beyond that? What is the normative framework within which TA operates? Is it always the same or does it differ depending on the topic, societal task or country and political culture? How [...]

Dieses Buch verdankt sich der Beobachtung, dass in öffentlichen Debatten in unserer Gesellschaft, in denen es direkt oder indirekt um Fragen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung junger Menschen geht, eine große Diskrepanz festzustellen ist zwischen den Erkenntnissen verschiedener anthropologischer [...]

englischPoor educational performance is caused by a number of factors. In addition to specific student traits and educational inequality caused by students’ background and migration history, educational systems and schools can also be contributing factors. Educational policy plays a central role in [...]

englischOur society encounters itself in public goods, which citizens depend on in order to develop in a free and equal society and to shape social cohesion democratically. Demographic, neoliberal and digital structural change and social and pandemic, economic and ecological, and energy and military [...]

englischThis volume is more timely than ever since the Corona pandemic. It is the second edition of the 2005 volume that examines the phenomenon of home-based work and home office:

Working at home on the computer, connected to headquarters via the Internet, flexibly switching between work and [...]

englischIn recent years, the influence of European law on national social policy has increased substantially. In this respect, the impact of the European competition and procurement law on healthcare and social policy in Germany is particularly significant, affecting the social economy in a specific [...]

Von Unternehmen – insbesondere (großen) Aktiengesellschaften – wird vielfach gefordert, sie sollten ihrer Rolle als „Good Corporate Citizen“ gerecht werden und einen Beitrag zum Gemeinwohl leisten. Wenn sie dieser Forderung durch Unternehmensspenden nachkommen, bewegen sie sich allerdings auf [...]

englischThis book discusses digitalization, robotization, and automation of society and of the economy and the use of artificial intelligence from an ethical perspective. After an introduction on the correlation between morality and technology and an assessment of the moral capability of [...]