ABSTRACT
To develop a sociological understanding of the subjective perceptions of skill held by individuals and groups in the three case study factories, a discussion of various sociological definitions of the term ‘skill’ will be carried out. This begins with an account of the various dimensions of skill, and goes on to explore the ways in which skill is conceptualised from three sociological paradigms. The chapter then moves on to discuss two factors that are significant in the generation of subjective perceptions of skill: managerial strategies and technology. The final section of the chapter presents an introduction to issues of gender and skill.
