A two-alignment tensor model for the dynamics of side chain liquid-crystalline polymers is applied to the case of planar shear flow. The predictions of the model are worked out for the case of stationary and oscillatory shear flow. In stationary shear, a flow induced isotropic-to-nematic phase transition is observed as well as a stress plateau for intermediate shear rates. In oscillatory shear flow, a low frequency elastic modulus is found. The model predictions agree qualitatively with experimental results. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.