Missing links: Production structures and quality of working life in the clothing industry

The Dutch version of sociotechnical systems design called “modern sociotechnology” stresses that the quality of working life is dependent on the choice for a certain “production structure”, i.e. the physical layout of operations. Two propositions about this relationship are derived from modern sociotechnology, and tested on a sample of Dutch textile companies. No empirical support is found for the propositions. The implications of these findings are discussed.