An American oil multinational in the U.K.: Its formal review of industrial relations strategy

Abstract

This paper is a case study chronicling and analyzing the strategic considerations given to industrial relations in a proposal to develop a coherent and deliberate strategy for industrial relations by the U.K. subsidiary of an American multinational oil company. The study is based on interviews and substantial internal documents provided by the case study managers. This represents a unique illustration as to the extent a major company goes through in considering the way in which it needs to consider industrial relations issues. Seldom has a document such as this been able to be analyzed by industrial relations researchers, and it illustrates the lack of strategic thinking, even in such a large sophisticated organization.