In this course, you are introduced in detail to the concept of work, with our main focus upon paid work within the employment relationship.

In Section 1, we look at the meaning of work, both historically, when we revisit the ideas of Weber and Marx, and within contemporary British society. We then go on to look at how jobs and occupations are categorised, the characteristics of the labour market and the role of women workers within it.

In Section 2, we deal with how jobs and occupations are arranged and structured within British society, both vertically, or hierarchically, and horizontally. We also look at how people can progress in their jobs and careers, and why some people move downwards. We also examine the labour market and its characteristics, particularly in relation to part-time workers and women workers.

In Section 3, we examine the meanings given to work by workers themselves, and the concept of "work orientations" is introduced. This is followed, in Section 4, by an analysis of the emerging "information economy" and the impact of new technologies upon work and organisations.

Finally, we deal with trends and prospects concerning unemployment, the service sector of the economy, working time and work outside employment.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• define work and differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.
• indicate how the meaning of work and human attitudes towards it are affected by cultural and social factors and give some historical examples.
• explain how Weber's protestant work ethic and Marx's concept of alienation are relevant to modern attitudes to work and have meaning for the individual.
• describe in basic terms some models used to describe the structure of work and list the groups or categories identified in the hierarchical occupational model.
• explain through examples the concept of occupational mobility and some of the factors that may affect this.
• examine two significant features of the labour market, the dual labour market and the sexual division of labour, and discuss the reasons put forward to explain them.
• list some broad occupational groups into which work has been dividedand give examples of how the market power and status of occupational groups may change as society changes.
• define the concept of "work orientation" and critically discuss some important studies of it.
• illustrate how work orientation is a dynamic rather than a static quality and identify some of the influences inside and outside work that may determine how people give meaning to their work.
• describe some current changes in UK work and job patterns and in the economy, and identify social and economic factors influencing their development.
• describe a range of developments in information technology and explain their importance in relation to global competitive and economic developments.
• discuss the impact of new technologies on work, particularly in relation to flexibility, work design, and organisational structure and employment patterns.
• identify some of the changing patterns of work, employment and unemployment and discuss in an informed way possible future trends.

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Work, Meaning and Culture

Culture and work

Section 2: Occupations and the Structure of Work

Occupational structure

Work and occupations

Types of work: labour market segmentation

Women?s employment 

Section 3: Work Orientations and Meaning

Orientations to work: Goldthorpe et al

Subsequent research on orientations to work

Section 4: Changing Work Arrangements

Setting the scene

The informal economy

The changing economy

Economic circumstances and information technologies

Impact of new technologies upon work

Section 5: Changes in Work, Employment and Unemployment

Unemployment

The service sector

Working time and work outside employment

Summary

Tutor-marked Question Paper

On completion of your course, you will receive two qualifications:

Qualification 1: Nature of Work (Byte Size) Certificate

Nature of Work (Byte Size) Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Cert after your name.

Qualification 2: Level 1 Nature of Work (Byte Size) Award

This Course leads to an NCFE Level 1 Award Certificate for successful learners. That means that it is independantly accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 1 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3). In accrediting the programme at level 1, NCFE attests that its learning outcomes are at an equivalent level to a level 1 national qualification.

This award has been designed by Stonebridge Associated Colleges to meet specific learners' or employers' requirements. Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that this learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE.

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.

When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.

At the end of the course you will receive an award issued by Stonebridge Associated College, and also gain full awarding body accreditation for the course.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 20 hrs.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support
• The course fee includes the awarding body registration and certification fee (valued at up to £30.00).

What is NCFE

NCFE is the UK's longest established awarding body, recognised as a highly professional and responsive organisation, committed to maintaining excellent customer service and a friendly approach.

NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.

Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that a learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE. Learners successfully completing NCFE accredited programmes receive an externally accredited and nationally recognised NCFE certificate.

For more information on this award, click here

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