급진적 제품 혁신에 대한 노사의 전략적 대응과 생산시스템의 변화 - H자동차 전기자동차 사례 -

초록

How do management and labor union respond to radical product innovations such as electric vehicles, and how do these actors’ responses affect changes in production system? To answer this research question, this paper analyzed strategic responses of management and labor union to radical product innovation and changes in production systems through case study on electric vehicles of H motor company by using various data, such as internal data of manufacturer and interviews with company official and labor union activists. This paper revealed that even if radical product innovation occurs, the production system that produces radically innovative products is not technically determined only. Changes in the production system are implemented by actors competing to realize their intentions within technical rationality. In two cases of this study, management devised inventively technological systems to implement a production strategy called a low cost strategy based on existing resources while responding to product innovation. On the other hand, for work organization, a status quo strategy was chosen to reduce conflict factors with labor union and achieve gradual changes. And the labor union actively responded to the company’s production strategy in the same way it had previously responded to new internal combustion engine vehicle production. It was the union’s capacity and means to respond that determined the success or failure of the union’s response. According to this study, changes in the production system due to the spread of electric vehicles will significantly reduce the labor force needed for production, which is likely to cause employment problems. Social-level efforts are needed for ‘Just Transition’.

키워드