Application of the System Model of Industrial Relations in a Leading Manufacturing Organization in Bangladesh

Year 2025, Issue: 6, 251 - 266, 21.03.2025

Anisur Khan

https://doi.org/10.62156/habitus.1620827

Abstract

John Dunlop’s System Model of Industrial Relations, developed in the 1950s, is one of the prominent theories in organizational/industrial sociology. This theory considers industrial relations as a social system combining several sub-systems. An attempt has been made for the first time to examine the implications of this theory with a view to analyzing the working environment in Walton-a leading manufacturing organization in Bangladesh. Starting its operation in 1977 as a small-scale enterprise, Walton currently captures a big slice of the domestic market and is also extending its operation to international markets. The study is based on the five testable components of industrial relations including government/actor, technology, ideology, market and power. Questionnaires were developed to collect data from the respondents in different departments of the organization through random sampling. The results confirm that the Dunlop approach works in a befitting manner in most cases in Walton. The findings bear important lessons in the field of industrial sociology. The theory remains relevant even today in the sphere of employee relations.

Keywords

Dunlop, System approach, Industrial Relations, Walton, Bangladesh.

Application of the System Model of Industrial Relations in A Leading Manufacturing Organization in Bangladesh

Abstract

John Dunlop’s System Model of Industrial Relations, developed in the 1950s, is one of the prominent theories in organizational/industrial sociology. This theory considers industrial relations as a social system combining several sub-systems. An attempt has been made for the first time to examine the implications of this theory with a view to analyzing the working environment in Walton-a leading manufacturing organization in Bangladesh. Starting its operation in 1977 as a small-scale enterprise, Walton currently captures a big slice of the domestic market and is also extending its operation to international markets. The study is based on the five testable components of industrial relations including government/actor, technology, ideology, market and power. Questionnaires were developed to collect data from the respondents in different departments of the organization through random sampling. The results confirm that the Dunlop approach works in a befitting manner in most cases in Walton. The findings bear important lessons in the field of industrial sociology. The theory remains relevant even today in the sphere of employee relations.

Keywords

Dunlop, System approach, Industrial Relations, Walton, Bangladesh.

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