Employee empowerment is giving employees responsibility and authority to make decisions regarding all aspects of product development or customer service.
Some of the disadvantages of employee empowerment include: employees can abuse the increased power given to them; it is too much responsibility for some employees; employees who focus on their own success rather than the group's may leave; managers must be better trained to facilitate through sharing of information, cooperation, and referrals to appropriate resources; all employees must "buy in" to the concept for it to be effective; there is an increased cost to the organization for training and education; there is increased time in groups or committees which takes away from regular jobs; there may be increased conflict or power struggles between employees due to group work; some employees may not be knowledgeable enough to make good business decisions; decisions made on the basis of personality versus logical reasoning.
Advantages of employee empowerment include: increased employee education and training; employees participate in creating their own goals; increased employee contribution; increased respect among employees due to teamwork; increased power equals lower absenteeism and better productivity; employees have more satisfying work; an increased depth of competence among employees due to cross-training; less conflict with administration and managers; fewer middle management positions mean decreased cost to the company. Employees are more likely to agree with changes if they participate in decision-making.
There needs to be a balance between empowerment and traditional management. The manager of the department needs to be sensitive to the employees' needs and the company's needs and to know how to use a management style that will work best to achieve desired outcomes.
From Sri Lanka
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1Some of the disadvantages of employee empowerment include: employees can abuse the increased power given to them; it is too much responsibility for some employees; employees who focus on their own success rather than the group's may leave; managers must be better trained to facilitate through sharing of information, cooperation, and referrals to appropriate resources; all employees must "buy in" to the concept for it to be effective; there is an increased cost to the organization for training and education; there is increased time in groups or committees which takes away from regular jobs; there may be increased conflict or power struggles between employees due to group work; some employees may not be knowledgeable enough to make good business decisions; decisions made on the basis of personality versus logical reasoning.
Advantages of employee empowerment include: increased employee education and training; employees participate in creating their own goals; increased employee contribution; increased respect among employees due to teamwork; increased power equals lower absenteeism and better productivity; employees have more satisfying work; an increased depth of competence among employees due to cross-training; less conflict with administration and managers; fewer middle management positions mean decreased cost to the company. Employees are more likely to agree with changes if they participate in decision-making.
There needs to be a balance between empowerment and traditional management. The manager of the department needs to be sensitive to the employees' needs and the company's needs and to know how to use a management style that will work best to achieve desired outcomes.
From Sri Lanka
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In comparison to the earlier job holders, the newer generation shows much-improved potential in diagnosis, dexterity, and resilience. This may be the result of better education at colleges and more exposure to society at large, better and faster movement around, as well as the knowledge and skills imparted by print media and visual communication.
In an organizational context, one can find highly skilled staff who are capable and eager to contribute in whatever manner possible. It is also incorrect to believe that only formal managers are managing the division; mostly, they would be doing so with the involvement or assistance of such capable contributors. Hence, empowerment can easily be practiced if the organization bears the additional overheads on training and development, which would immediately get compensated by the enlarged span of control and flatter system of organization.
SACHI
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In an organizational context, one can find highly skilled staff who are capable and eager to contribute in whatever manner possible. It is also incorrect to believe that only formal managers are managing the division; mostly, they would be doing so with the involvement or assistance of such capable contributors. Hence, empowerment can easily be practiced if the organization bears the additional overheads on training and development, which would immediately get compensated by the enlarged span of control and flatter system of organization.
SACHI
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Empowerment is educating and training your employees to make their own decisions. Prerequisites include the willingness of the senior management and clarity of objectives.
Advantages of empowerment can include:
- Enhanced motivation
- Increased employee commitment
- Improved team spirit
- Freeing up time for senior management to focus on more strategic decisions
Disadvantages of empowerment may include:
- Not all staff being trained to operate in a dynamic environment and make decisions
- The inability to standardize processes
- Potential conflict escalation leading to interpersonal relationship issues due to clashes between employees
Tan
From India, Mumbai
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Advantages of empowerment can include:
- Enhanced motivation
- Increased employee commitment
- Improved team spirit
- Freeing up time for senior management to focus on more strategic decisions
Disadvantages of empowerment may include:
- Not all staff being trained to operate in a dynamic environment and make decisions
- The inability to standardize processes
- Potential conflict escalation leading to interpersonal relationship issues due to clashes between employees
Tan
From India, Mumbai
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