Perspectives on Contemporary Professional Work

This is an exciting collection that provides a very good feel for the intellectual vigour that characterizes work on the contemporary professions. The book brings together an international team of multidisciplinary scholars who analyze professional work in the context of some of the big social science debates of our age, including managerialism, mobilities, globalization and the impact of information technology. This is an exciting field of study and this book contributes to this excitement.' - Daniel Muzio, Newcastle University and Editor Journal of Professions and Organization'In modern societies, professions are the primary remaining manifestation of a pre-industrial occupation-based approach to shaping and giving meaning to work. But the principles of contemporary professionalism operate in constant tension with the bureaucratic or corporate principles that dominate modern societies. Perspectives on Contemporary Professional Work cannot be bettered as an insightful, informed and rewarding examination of what the playing out of these tensions means for societies, organisations and individual 'professionals'.' - Tony Watson, Nottingham University Business School, UK How is the world of professions and professional work changing? This book offers both an overview of current debates surrounding the nature of professional work, and the implications for change brought about by the managerialist agenda. The relationships professionals have with their organizations are variable, indeterminate and uncertain, and there is still debate over the ways in which these should be characterized and theorized. The contributors discuss these implications with topics including hybrid organizations and hybrid professionalism; the changing nature of professional and managerial work; profession and identity; and the emergence of HRM as a new managerial profession. This book will be of interest to academics and postgraduate students seeking a comparative study on contemporary professional work. It will also be of use to a number of practitioners, namely human resource managers, looking for ways in which to approach the changing professional world. Contributors: P. Ackers, M. Avery, J. Booth, M. Boussebaa, M. Boyle, S. Brandis, B.B. Caza, C.L. Cooper, C. Coupland, S. Creary, C. Croft, G. Currie, S. De, J. Evetts, J. Faulconbridge, R. Fisher, A. Fitzgerald, L. Fitzgerald, S. Gamwell, P. Higgins, D. Hislop, R. King, K. Mather, G. Matthewson, R. McPhail, A. Roan, I. Roper, B. Russell, D. Sage, C. Trusson, A. Wilkinson, L. Worrall