Participation And Empowerment In Organizations

This book traces the origins of worker participation in management and decision making, examines the repertoire of empowerment and participatory techniques as applied throughout the world, and assesses, by means of empirical evidence, their effectiveness in the day to day managerial work. Both theoretical and empirical bases of participation and empowerment are presented and their relationship with leadership, goal setting, and problem solving phenomenon analyzed. The book concludes with a chapter describing a comprehensive model of the dynamics of employee participation and its influence on work outcomes is suggested.

Although participation and empowerment constitute prominent ideals in international development cooperation, most development interventions are still patronizing and conducted in a top-down manner. This book argues that one reason for the unsuccessful implementation of participation and empowerment relates to the cultures and internal structures of development organizations. A theoretical model explicates how organizational culture influences an organization's approach to participatory development. This model is applied to an ethnographic case-study of a South African development organization.

Reprinted from the 25th anniversary issue of Community Development Journal (no date noted) 17 essays review contemporary campaigns for community participation and empowerment. Some explore such aspects as the concept of empowerment and its relation to public policy and development within social movements, and the relevance of the mixed economy of welfare to self-help and community participation. Others present case studies from Europe, the US, Australia, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Paper edition (unseen), $25.00. Distributed in the US by Humanities Press. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"The most complete treatment I've seen on the subject....If you're making the move to self-directed work teams, this is the book to read!"--Chuck Day, editor-in-chief, Industry WeekEmpowered Teams provides the frank answers to questions about how teams work, what makes them effective, when they are useful, how to get them going, and how to maintain their vigor and productivity over the long haul. Draws on a survey of over five hundred organizations and an in-depth study of twenty-eight companies (conducted jointly by Industry Week and the Association for Quality and Participation).

Dr Kinlaw, one of America's leading authorities on management development, sees empowerment as a way of improving organizational performance by making the most competent people the most influential most of the time, and his book provides a comprehensive and detailed model for achieving this objective. Drawing on examples and case studies from successful companies, Dr Kinlaw describes a practical, step-by-step process for introducing or extending empowerment in an organization or any part of an organization, and shows how to use feedback, team development and learning to good effect.

Now in its fourth edition, completely revised and updated, this book continues to offer in-depth coverage spanning both conceptual debates about empowerment and a range of practice issues. The text provides social workers with a clear framework for critical and empowering practice with service users and carers. The author offers an account of the development of empowerment and participation in practice, considering all dimensions, from work with individuals and groupwork, through to organisational, community and political aspects. The clarity and accessibility, as well as new examples reflecting varied global contexts and material on empowering children and adults, make it an essential resource at all levels of study. New to this Edition: - Strong emphasis on the needs of service users and a clear focus on how social workers may encourage service user and carer prticipation - Internationally diverse case studies and practice examples, reflecting global concerns as well as the changing service and practice terrains in the UK - New and extended material on empowering children and adults

Designed to help build powerful community organizations, empower ordinary citizens to become leaders, and bring about major social and economic change, this book offers a coherent practice-based framework for understanding social action, with power and empowerment at the center of analysis. Topics include recruiting members, consensus building, leadership, publicity, and fundraising.