ABSTRACT
In this chapter I propose to review the progress that has been made in researching into different aspects of industrial relations at workplace level. My review starts with an assessment of some of the main findings of the survey carried out for the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations (the ‘Donovan Commission’) and goes on to note some of the possible topics for further survey research. I then turn to the contribution of case studies in gaining a deeper understanding of a single situation or relatively few situations. Finally I propose two models to help guide future research into workplace industrial relations in a systematic way: a general model of the variables involved, and a ‘path’ model tracing the various paths that can be taken in handling a particular industrial relations episode.
