The contribution provides an analysis of the scientific collaboration during the 60s between Luciano Gallino, as Head of the Sociological Research Dept. in Olivetti and Franco Momigliano, in charge of the Olivetti Dept. for Economic Analysis and Planning. Both of them were very much interested to analyse the industry organization processes and especially the evolution of labour, through a common vision of the requirement of structural reforms in the industry organization based on the centrality of labour. Main term of reference was at that time a fundamental essay by Gallino on "Technological progress and organization change in the Olivetti factories" which contains an analysis of internal factors providing growth in a company like Olivetti. It elaborates the idea of "positive industrial sociology" based on principles of rationality, to whom Momigliano as an economist gave further contribution through essays on labour organization and operationally through the introduction of long range planning in Olivetti.
Keywords: Technological progress, labour organization, industrial sociology, planning, productivity, rationality