The Joseph R. Rich Lecture Series
May 14, New York City, NY
Social Commitments in a Depersonalized World with Edward J. Lawler
The ties people form with each other and with organizations tend to be increasingly transactional. What are the bases upon which people form and sustain ties to groups and organizations in today’s world? If employer organizations reveal little commitment to their employees, why would employees develop much commitment to those organizations? If nation states are less effective at serving or protecting their citizenry, why would citizens maintain the same level of commitment to their nations? Professor Lawler will discuss his new book, which portrays the commitments of people to small groups, work organizations, communities, or even nations as a powerful, mobilizing force, but one that is being threatened or weakened by major social transformations underway. He offers a general theoretical account of how people themselves generate and sustain order and predictability, emphasizing the importance of collaborative activities that generate positive feelings and suggests that, in the global, individualized, and tran
sactional world we live in today, person to group ties or commitments are even more important sources of order and stability, especially as ties among people become more episodic, shallow, and fragile.
Edward J. Lawler is the Martin P. Catherwood Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1971 and spent 22 years on the University of Iowa faculty before coming to the ILR School in 1994 as a professor in the department of organizational behavior . He served as dean of the ILR School from 1997-2005. Among his honors is the Cooley-Mead Award for career contributions to social psychology in 2002.
To Register
Complete the attached form and send it with your payment to: Institute for Workplace Studies, Cornell University, 16 E. 34th St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016 or fax it to: (212) 340-2893.
You may register online at www.ilr.cornell.edu/iws
Format
Each colloquium will begin with a presentation by the
featured speaker followed by dinner and a group discussion on the evening’s topic.
Time and Place
The Workplace Colloquium Series will be held at The
Cornell Club, 6 East 44th Street (between Madison and Fifth) in Manhattan from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.
Cost
The cost for each event is $45. The cost for ILR Alumni Association members is $40.
Dietary Needs
A vegetarian or kosher option is available.
Confirmation
Your reservation will be confirmed in writing or via e-mail.
Cancellation
Cancellations are accepted up to 72 hours prior to each event. A refund check will be sent by mail within four weeks.
Further Information
Web: www.ilr.cornell.edu/iws
E-mail: iwsnyc@cornell.edu.
Phone: Katie Briggs at (212) 340-7931
Information about the MPS Program
Web: www.cornellnyc.org
E-mail: mpsnyc@cornell.edu
Phone: Sara Edwards at (212) 340-2808