ABSTRACT
Two main groups of operatives – the weavers and the overlookers – were directly affected by the introduction of the automatic looms. They, unlike many other operatives in the mill who were only partially affected, found that their whole work life was now different. In this chapter we attempt first to understand how the task and responsibility of these operatives changed with the innovation. However, the definition of such a change in role in a complex social system like that of Radbourne Mill does not mean that it was straightaway clearly perceived and adopted by the persons concerned. Many factors influence the attitude and behaviour of individuals and groups in such a situation and some of these will also be discussed.
