Industrial relations in small firms: The case of the Australian information industry

Industrial relations in small firms, when they are defined in terms of their employment size, are generally described as harmonious. Industrial relations in small firms operating in the Australian information industry are explored in this paper, as are reasons for those industrial relations. Although the study reported here can be used to support the “small is beautiful” view, this ignores the fact that industrial relations in large firms in this industry are not greatly different. How size affects industrial relations in one small firm is examined and it is proposed that, on its own, size does not provide an adequate explanation for industrial relations in small firms in the Australian information industry.