PATTERNS OF WORKPLACE PRACTICES

from
Harry C. Katz and Owen Drabishire. 2000.
Converging Divergences: Worldwide Changes in Employment Systems
Pages 10-11

LOW WAGE	HRM	JAPANESE-ORIENTED	JOINT TEAM-BASED
Managerial discretion with informal procedures	Corporate culture and extensive communication	Standardized procedures	Joint decision making
Hierarchical work relations	Directed teams	Problem-solving teams	Semi-autonomous work groups
Low wages with piece rates	Above-average wages with contingent pay	High pay linked to seniority and performance appraisal	High pay with pay-for-knowledge
High turnover	Individualized career development	Employment stabilization	Career development
Strong anti-union animus	Union substitution	Enterprise unionism	Union and employee involvement

Low-wage employment pattern is characterized by work practices that afford management substantial discretion and power.
The HRM employment pattern focuses on individualized rewards and career development. It attempts to sustain a strong, managerially driven corporate culture through extensive corporate communication.
The Japanese-oriented workplace pattern is distinguished from a more joint team-based approach by the extent to which workers are granted autonomy to decide how and when they carry out their job tasks.