MICHAEL DEMPSEY - Cranfield University

Proposition 4.2
There is some support for this proposition in terms of the deployment of
resources. However, stakeholder management in respect of
stakeholders within the union’s democratic structure is a contested
area irrespective of the phase of merger reached. There are
statements that suggest that normative stakeholder management is the
goal and these are related to trade union principles but between
principle and reality the links are not clear in many cases.
Proposition 5
This proposition is largely supported. Boundaries are unclear and
although political and power relations may be factors, there are other
boundaries identified. Boundaries related to conflictual relations,
constitutional boundaries, moveable boundaries and staff boundaries
are significant; too. Again, these do not seem to relate to the phase of
merger reached.
Realist epistemology, as noted in Chapter 3, is based on the building of
models of mechanisms so that phenomena of interest can be
examined. These hypothetical mechanisms, reflected in the
propositions of this research, has enabled ideas about their content to
be discussed and conclusions to be reached that account for the
phenomena being examined. The fact, therefore, that the propositions
may not have been fully substantiated is immaterial. A complex picture
has emerged, revealing trade union managers and their activities in the
case study unions. The closing chapter of this thesis will seek to make
judgments about the theoretical implications of these findings.
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