ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS AND CHANGE IN MERCHANT SHIPPING

Abstract

This research was conducted during a period of rapid change within marine technology and within society ashore. The ships used for the field work were relatively highly mechanized and specialized. Two were owned by a large, old tanker company which had a stable labour force while the remaining two were owned by a small and very young company employing highly mobile officers recruited from other shipping companies. The focus of the research lay within the officer groups, their relationships with each other and with their managers ashore. Attention was paid to the manner in which both officers and shore managers were coping with technological change and to the degree of conflict experienced by individuals when comparing their work and life aboard ship with that of their contemporaries ashore.