[PDF] flexible working model atkinson

Is Atkinson's flexible firm a 'post-industrial' model?

This paper offers a defence of Atkinson's model of the flexible firm. It takes issue with two arguments against it: thatthe model needs to be understood at a political level, as part of a wider `post-industrial' vision; and that the observed increase in flexibility offers the model no support because of its `non-strategic' nature.

What is the flexible firm model?

Atkinson identified the need to distinguish the levels of importance of certain teams or groups of employees to an organisation, to generate workforce flexibility and a clear hierarchy of importance. This led to the formulation and creation of the Flexible Firm model as an answer to how such groups should be placed within the flexibility hierarchy.

Are flexible work patterns relevant in practice?

This reflects the growing relevance of flexible work patterns in practice. The general assumption is that flexible work arrangements enable an organization to adapt its workforce to changes in the working environment, which is mainly based on At kinson's (1984) groundbreaking 'flexible firm' model.

What is a flexible work arrangement?

The general assumption is that flexible work arrangements enable an organization to adapt its workforce to changes in the working environment, which is mainly based on At kinson's (1984) groundbreaking 'flexible firm' model. In practice, we increasingly ob serve flexible work time arrangements and non-standard working conditions (e.g.