This book investigates whether contemporary Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, such as performance-related pay and employee appraisals, have fundamentally altered the nature of technical work and the traditional service contract. Author Patrick McGovern, a scholar in industrial relations and organizational sociology, utilizes empirical data from the Irish technology sector to challenge prescriptive management models. He argues that the high level of commitment inherent in technical occupations creates unique control challenges for multinational corporations that standard HRM frameworks often overlook. The work provides a critical assessment of how global corporate strategies intersect with local labor markets.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of labor relations within the high-tech sector. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the value of the specific Irish case studies in illustrating broader global management trends.