The socio-technical theory of work organization was developed in the 1950’s as a result of a series of studies in the british coal industry. In it, work organization was considered to be a product of two groups of factors, social and technical, which could be combined in various ways, each with its own psychological, social and economic implications. Key to the development of the theory were the specific studies carried out in the Chopwell mine in the north of England where new methods of collective organization had been introduced by the miners after negotiation with local management. The objective of this paper is to re-examine these earlier studies and experiences in the light of current concerns in the area of work and employment generation and local social and economic development.