Emeritus Professor
Management, Work and Organisation University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Before his arrival at Stirling Paul was Professor of Organisational Analysis, Department of Human Resource Management, Univesity of Strathclyde (1999-2015, including Head of department 2005-8); Vice Dean Research of Strathclyde Business School (2002-5; 2010-13); Professor of Management and Head of Department of Business Studies, University of Edinburgh 1995-9. Professor and Principal Lecturer, Department of Organisation Studies, University of Central Lancashire 1984-1995. He is Consulting Editor to the joural Work in the Global Economy and serves on the Boards of New Technology, Work and Employment and Industrial Relations./Relations Industrielle. Paul is an internationally known theorist of the labour process and of changes in work, employment and organization. Amongst his single or co-authored books are The Nature of Work, Workplaces of the Future, New Technology@Work, Work Organisations, and Organizational Misbehaviour. He has over 70 articles in leading journals. His work has been translated into Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Hungarian and Swedish. He is Convenor of the Steering Group for the International Labour Process Conference. Paul has led or been part of teams researching the commercial vehicle, hotel, call centre, spirits and supermarket sectors. With various colleagues, research grants have been secured from the ESRC (Management Innovation Programme, studentships and Seminar Programme), private companies (e.g. United Distillers and Allied Distiller Ltd), the Trades Union Congress, the Carnegie Trust and the Australian Research Council.
My recent projects have been on global value chains and labour with Racel Parker at Queensland University of Technology) and social media and employment relations (with Paula McDonald of Queensland University of Technology). Longer term research interests have focused on managerial control and worker resistance/misbehaviour; and on the inter-relations between capitalist political economy, firms, technology and the labour process. Since the early 2000s I have been developing an account of the impacts of financialization on work and employment relations at firm/chain level.
Article
Class Composition, Labour's Strategy and the Politics of Work
Thompson P, Pitts FH, Ingold J & Cruddas J (2022) Class Composition, Labour's Strategy and the Politics of Work. Political Quarterly, 93 (1), pp. 142-149. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13097
Article
When accumulation pressures meet regulatory institutions: A comparison in logistics
Pulignano V, Thompson P & Doerflinger N (2022) When accumulation pressures meet regulatory institutions: A comparison in logistics. European Journal of Industrial Relations. https://doi.org/10.1177/09596801211073599
Article
A Strategic Left? Starmerism, Pluralism and the Soft Left
Thompson P, Pitts FH & Ingold J (2021) A Strategic Left? Starmerism, Pluralism and the Soft Left. Political Quarterly, 92 (1), pp. 32-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12940
Article
Capitalism, Technology and Work: Interrogating the Tipping Point Thesis
Thompson P (2020) Capitalism, Technology and Work: Interrogating the Tipping Point Thesis. Political Quarterly, 91 (2), pp. 299-309. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923x.12787
Article
Workplace change and institutional experimentation: a case study of service-sector work in Europe
Pulignano V, Thompson P & Doerflinger N (2020) Workplace change and institutional experimentation: a case study of service-sector work in Europe. Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, 26 (2), pp. 175-187. https://doi.org/10.1177/1024258920918483
Article
Employee dissent on social media and organizational discipline
Thompson P, McDonald P & O’Connor P (2020) Employee dissent on social media and organizational discipline. Human Relations, 73 (5), pp. 631-652. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726719846262
Article
The Taylor Review: a platform for progress?
Thompson P (2019) The Taylor Review: a platform for progress?. New Technology, Work and Employment, 34 (2), pp. 106-110. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12130
Article
Financialization and Value-based Control: Lessons from the Australian Mining Supply Chain
Parker R, Cox S & Thompson P (2018) Financialization and Value-based Control: Lessons from the Australian Mining Supply Chain. Economic Geography, 94 (1), pp. 49-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/00130095.2017.1330118
Article
Parker R, Cox S & Thompson P (2017) The dynamics of global visual effects and games development industries: lessons for Australia’s creative industries development policy. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 23 (4), pp. 395-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2015.1064118
Article
Contemporary work: Its meanings and demands
Findlay P & Thompson P (2017) Contemporary work: Its meanings and demands. Journal of Industrial Relations, 59 (2), pp. 122-138. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022185616672251
Book Chapter
The Dynamics of Dignity at Work
Thompson P & Newsome K (2016) The Dynamics of Dignity at Work. In: Keister L & Roscigno V (eds.) A Gedenkschrift to Randy Hodson: Working with Dignity. Research in the Sociology of Work, 28. Bingley: Emerald Press, pp. 79-100. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/S0277-283320160000028008
Book Chapter
Unruly Subjects: Misbehaviour in the Workplace
Ackroyd S & Thompson P (2016) Unruly Subjects: Misbehaviour in the Workplace. In: Edgell S, Gottfried H & Granter E (eds.) The SAGE Handbook of the Sociology of Work and Employment. London: SAGE, pp. 185-204. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/the-sage-handbook-of-the-sociology-of-work-and-employment/book241928
Article
Dissent at Work and the Resistance Debate: Departures, Directions, and Dead Ends
Thompson P (2016) Dissent at Work and the Resistance Debate: Departures, Directions, and Dead Ends. Studies in Political Economy, 97 (2), pp. 106-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/07078552.2016.1207331
Article
Profiling employees online: shifting public-private boundaries in organisational life
McDonald P, Thompson P & O'Connor P (2016) Profiling employees online: shifting public-private boundaries in organisational life. Human Resource Management Journal, 26 (4), pp. 541-556. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12121
Article
Financialization and value: why labour and the labour process still matter
Cushen J & Thompson P (2016) Financialization and value: why labour and the labour process still matter. Work, Employment and Society, 30 (2), pp. 352-365. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017015617676
Article
Interrogating creative theory and creative work: inside the games studio
Thompson P, Parker R & Cox S (2016) Interrogating creative theory and creative work: inside the games studio. Sociology, 50 (2), pp. 316-332. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038514565836
Article
Social Media(tion) and the Reshaping of Public/Private Boundaries in Employment Relations
McDonald P & Thompson P (2016) Social Media(tion) and the Reshaping of Public/Private Boundaries in Employment Relations. International Journal of Management Reviews, 18 (1), pp. 69-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12061
Book Chapter
Thompson P, Parker R & Cox S (2015) Labour and Assymetric Power Relations in Global Value Chains: The digital entertainment industries and beyond. In: Newsome K, Taylor P, Bair J & Rainnie A (eds.) Putting Labour in its Place: Labour Process Analysis and Global Value Chains. Critical Perspectives on Work and Employment. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 45-63. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/putting-labour-in-its-place-kirsty-newsome/?K=9781137410351
Article
Parker R, Cox S & Thompson P (2014) How technological change affects power relations in global markets: Remote developers in the console and mobile games industry. Environment and Planning A, 46 (1), pp. 168-185. https://doi.org/10.1068/a45663
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Labouring under the supply chain: work and employment in the UK supermarket supply chain
Newsome K, Commander J & Thompson P (2013) Labouring under the supply chain: work and employment in the UK supermarket supply chain. British Universities Industrial Relations Association 63rd Annual Conference, Glasgow, 27.06.2013-29.06.2013.
Article
'Good when they want to be': Migrant workers in the supermarket supply chain
Thompson P, Newsome K & Commander J (2013) 'Good when they want to be': Migrant workers in the supermarket supply chain. Human Resource Management Journal, 23 (2), pp. 129-143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2011.00186.x
Article
Newsome K, Thompson P & Commander J (2013) 'You monitor performance at every hour': Labour and the management of performance in the supermarket supply chain. New Technology, Work and Employment, 28 (1), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12000
Article
Financialization and the workplace: Extending and applying the disconnected capitalism thesis
Thompson P (2013) Financialization and the workplace: Extending and applying the disconnected capitalism thesis. Work, Employment and Society, 27 (3), pp. 472-488. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017013479827
Article
More than a 'humpty dumpty' term: Strengthening the conceptualization of soft skills
Hurrell S, Scholarios D & Thompson P (2013) More than a 'humpty dumpty' term: Strengthening the conceptualization of soft skills. Economic and Industrial Democracy, 34 (1), pp. 161-182. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X12444934
Article
Thompson P & Harley B (2012) Beneath the Radar? A Critical Realist Analysis of 'The Knowledge Economy' and 'Shareholder Value' as Competing Discourses. Organization Studies, 33 (10), pp. 1363-1381. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840612457614
Article
Doing the right thing? HRM and the angry knowledge worker
Cushen J & Thompson P (2012) Doing the right thing? HRM and the angry knowledge worker. New Technology, Work and Employment, 27 (2), pp. 79-92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-005X.2012.00285.x
Article
Thompson P (2011) The trouble with HRM. Human Resource Management Journal, 21 (4), pp. 355-367. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2011.00180.x
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Newsome K, Thompson P & Commander J (2011) 'You monitor performance at every hour': labour and the management of performance in the retail supply chain. 29th International Labour Process Conference, Leeds, 05.04.2011-07.04.2011. https://www.ilpc.org.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=6135&absid=335
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Knowledge economy or shareholder value? A critical realist framework for understanding discourse
Thompson P & Harley B (2011) Knowledge economy or shareholder value? A critical realist framework for understanding discourse. 29th International Labour Process Conference, Leeds, 05.04.2011-07.04.2011.
Edited Book
Working Life: Renewing Labour Process Analysis
Smith C & Thompson P (eds.) (2010) Working Life: Renewing Labour Process Analysis. Critical Perspectives on Work and Employment. London: Palgrave Macmillan. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/working-life-paul-thompson/?isb=9780230222236
Book Chapter
Labour process theory and critical realism
Thompson P & Vincent S (2010) Labour process theory and critical realism. In: Thompson P & Smith C (eds.) Working Life: Renewing Labour Process Analysis. Critical Perspectives on Work and Employment. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 47-69. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/working-life-paul-thompson/?isb=9780230222236
Book Chapter
Beyond the blank slate: identities and interests at work
Marks A & Thompson P (2010) Beyond the blank slate: identities and interests at work. In: Thompson P & Smith C (eds.) Working Life: Renewing Labour Process Analysis. Critical Perspectives on Work and Employment. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 316-338. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/working-life-paul-thompson/?isb=9780230222236
Article
Managerial control and workplace regimes: An introduction
Thompson P & van den Broek D (2010) Managerial control and workplace regimes: An introduction. Work, Employment and Society, 24 (3), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017010384546
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Time is money: supermarkets, suppliers and working-time
Newsome K, Thompson P & Commander J (2010) Time is money: supermarkets, suppliers and working-time. Work, Employment and Society Conference 2010, Brighton, 07.09.2010-09.09.2010. https://www.britsoc.co.uk/files/WES%20Programme%20FINAL%20with%20COVER.pdf
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Re-visualising creative labour: a labour process perspective
Thompson P (2010) Re-visualising creative labour: a labour process perspective. 28th International Labour Process Conference, Rutgers, New York, 15.03.2010-17.03.2010. https://www.ilpc.org.uk/PreviousConferences/ILPC2010Papers.aspx
Article
The capitalist labour process: concepts and connections
Thompson P (2010) The capitalist labour process: concepts and connections. Capital and Class, 34 (1), pp. 7-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309816809353475
Article
Collective bargaining and new work regimes: 'too important to be left to bosses'
Findlay P, McKinlay A, Marks A & Thompson P (2009) Collective bargaining and new work regimes: 'too important to be left to bosses'. Industrial Relations Journal, 40 (3), pp. 235-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2338.2009.00523.x