Publisher's Synopsis
The purpose of Dr Franco's study is ""to show how Samoans perceive their work activities, and pattern meaningful work and non-work social transactions. Samoan work perceptions centre on two important social transactions: ""tautra"", service to chiefs and families, and ""fa alavelave"", mutual support during crucial life events"". In his survey, Dr Franco demonstrates that ""Samoans are adapting to overseas labour markets (particularly Hawaiian) through culturally distinctive work perceptions and patterns. ""Tautra"" and ""fa alavelave"", like the Korean ""kye"", (the rotating credit association) are unique social transactions powerfully influencing work and adaptation. By examining Samoan perceptions and patterns of work it is (the author's) goal to identify unique alternative competencies'...rather than deficiencies in Samoan workers."" Because of the nature of the subject, the Samoan, additional material deals wit native customs (eg. tattooing), crops, (yam, banana, coconut, breadfruit) and their traditional cultivation,the Samoan response to military work, cannery work, commercial agriculture, and government employment.
