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Dorée, A G (1996) Tendering practice of Dutch municipalities, Published PhD Thesis, Department of Construction Process Management, Universiteit Twente.
Siemons, J C M M (1992) Occupational safety and health policy implementation: A comparison between Japan and the Netherlands, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Universiteit Twente (The Netherlands).
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: coordination; group dynamics; industrial relations; policy; safety; Netherlands; case study; inspection; public sector; Japan; interview
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: https://www.proquest.com/docview/304033358
- Abstract:
This study attempts to describe and explain the implementation process of the occupational safety and health policies in Japan and the Netherlands. The following questions were selected as the focus of research: (a) What is the context of the occupational safety and health policy implementation process in Japan and the Netherlands? (b) What is the content of occupational safety and health policies in Japan and the Netherlands? (c) How are occupational safety and health policies implemented in Japan and the Netherlands? (d) Which characteristics of the actors affect the occupational safety and health policy implementation process in Japan and the Netherlands? (e) What is the goal attainment of occupational safety and health policy in Japan and the Netherlands? The case study method was used in order to obtain the required data in three industrial sectors: the construction industry, the harbour cargo handling industry and the metalworking industry in Japan and the Netherlands. Altogether six case studies, a product of empirical field research in Japan and the Netherlands by participatory observation (during on-the-spot inspections by the Labour Inspectorates) and 230 interviews with various Japanese and Dutch actors (both in the private and public sectors), are incorporated in this study. It is assumed that there are two sets of variables that influence the policy implementation process. The first set concerns the cultural, socio-economic, political-administrative, industrial relations, technological, and working environment contextual characteristics. In addition, five characteristics of the actors are distinguished, i.e. the goals, information, capacity, and power of the actors, and the coordination of the activities of the actors. The contextual factors are assumed to affect the course of the implementation process through their influence upon the five characteristics of the actors. This framework of analysis has been very useful, both in the Netherlands and Japan. Both for the entire industry as well as for the industrial sectors chosen for this study, Japan's performance in the reduction of occupational accidents was better than that in the Netherlands. It seems that the Japanese have been better able than the Dutch to combine the advantages of formal organization and informal group dynamics. In addition, most work practices in large Japanese firms are the outcome of conscious rational behaviour and not cultural tradition.