Cogs in the great machine - Coursework Example

Using the Order Theory and Conflict Theory, explain how the executives within the meat packing industry manipulated and violated the sociological theories. The Order Theory can be utilized to describe the ways in which a society is held together via institutions and shared values. In the beginning, communities were held together by the industry, providing families with stability and a sense of accomplishment. Slaughterhouses were privately owned, the workforce treated as family. The town of Greeley, Colorado, for example, was very dependant on the Monfort Plant within their local economy.

The company, community, and its workers maintained a state of balance and equilibrium: pay based on skill, benefit of paternal run plants, the company and its workers prospered. The business became unbalanced as skilled workers were replaced by the unskilled immigrants during industrialization, pay decreased, workforce was downsized. The Conflict Theory is focused on the ways in which society is divided and unequal. The struggle for power and resources, force and domination lead to division and inequality according to this theory.

By manipulating the Conflict Theory, the executives effectively took control, gaining power and resources within government. The executives divided themselves from their workers in favor of more money and provided low cost competition. Using force, they banded together and drove out smaller businesses, dominating the industry. There was a struggle for the American worker to maintain jobs. The skilled American worker was replaced with cheap unskilled immigrants who would work for less than satisfactory wages and work environment.

Using Interaction Theory and Order Theory, explain how the work force within the meat packing industry was impacted by the actions of the executives. The chapter discussed how the workforce within the meat packing industry was affected. Many jobs were lost as the industry downsized and removed the need for skilled labor. Pay was decreased and American citizens were replaced by cheaper unskilled immigrant labor. Workers wandered from one slaughterhouse to another, working short term due to poor working environments.

The Interaction Theory is concerned with how society is experienced by those living within it. The workers were greatly impacted by the executives' manipulation of this theory. Through the industrialization of the meat packing industry, members of society went from experiencing excellent work conditions and stable pay, to fighting for their rights as workers, receiving poor work conditions and pay cuts. Jobs that were once stable became undesirable. Workers often went from plant to plant seeking better working conditions and pay.

The industry went from waiting lists to annual turnover rates of 100 - 400%. The Order Theory can be used to analyze how the workers were held together by the industry. They maintained a state of balance by having jobs with competitive pay and benefits. They were leading middle class lives and helped feed into the economy of their areas and maintained economic equilibrium in their lives. Through industrialization, equilibrium within their communities was broken, and numerous American workers were displaced.

This social disruption gave rise to change as immigrant workers were utilized to work in the industry. Over time, the industry accommodated the change, but American neighborhoods were unable to recover.