The Essence Of Empowerment Essay -- essays research papers

The Essence of Empowerment     Empowerment is certainly not a new estimation within the business arena. Infact, its concept has been around since the 1960s when American carmanufactures suddenly realized that they were losing their butts to theJapanese producers. An extensive and extremely well-funded investigation foranswers to the recurrent question, how do I get more out of my employees turnsimultaneously lowering my costs, did produce some implement sufficient andconstructive results. The topic I have chosen to analyse is the applicationof employee empowerment and how to get the most out of this HR "buzzword."Within my scope of discussions are topics which include effective implementation,the role of the organization, and incentives to achieve and sustain actuation.     Employee empowerment, in its most basic definition, is effectivedelegation. The new twist that upper management has been trying desperately toachieve, is to invo lve the lowest level of employees in the decision-makingprocess while making them responsible for the results of their decisions. Therehave been many documented examples of anxiety, mistrust and complacency inemployees when this wave of "new-and-improved, successful managementstrategies" have been suddenly thrown and twisted upon them. Change of any kind willusually inspire resistance, especially when you are talking about extractingpower from management to place in the pass on of "subordinates."     There are obvious methods to achieving the results that the stakeh grayersof an organization demand through empowerment. Increases in profitability,productivity, creativity, and a shorter time-to-market are all feasible resultsof empowerment. In fact, "empowerment is an extremely cost-efficient concocts ofbringing about desired changes in performance and operational effectiveness."It takes only a stout devotion of the entire organization, f rom the top levelsdownward. Thats all. There are, however, tell factors to its success.     One of the most important key elements to take into account is the needfor extensive organizational preparation to achieve effective implementation.By preparation, I mean an organizational-wide commitment to preparing bothmanagement and its staff for the changes... ...n to the company.     While global change is driving companies to empowerment, and similarphilosophies like self- managed team-based arrangements, total qualitymanagement, it is important to note that no one philosophy is entirely correct,or incorrect. By combining the best of what these philosophies have to offerand adjusting, to the best of your ability, you corporate culture to facilitatethem, you are able to describe the rewards of currently suggested managementideologies. To expect them to work over night is ludicrous, however. Thesethings do take time, because remember, you dealin g with human beings here whodont like change. Be patient, preserve it will be worth the effort.     In sum, through cooperation, perseverance, and much patience, you mightbe able to develop an empowered atmosphere at your company. Change dictatesthat old philosophies are no longer valid. Through thorough preparation,education, communication, and absolute commitment you might be able to developempowerment techniques, but to truly reap empowerments rewards, you mustremember that employee motivation is the product of your reward system.