BUS4101 WK4 Project

Employee Empowerment

In the case study of GTH Real Estate, we see how employees play an important role in implementing

quality initiatives. However, the previous discussions on the role of employees were mostly looking at

the involvement of employees in the quality process.  Employee empowerment is signi�cantly different

from employee involvement.

Employee empowerment refers to having employee inputs heard and used, to allowing employees

more freedom and scope in thinking creatively, and to providing more ownership of their jobs. In

addition, employees are also allowed more freedom of expression and encouraged to participate in the

decision-making process of the company.

Challenges to Employee Empowerment

The main challenge to employee empowerment is resistance to change, which might come from

employees, unions, or management: 

Employees

Resistance from employees arises mainly due to skepticism and inertia. People are skeptical about any

change in the existing processes or responsibilities. They try to resist change because adjusting to new

things might be uncomfortable to most of them.

Unions

Labor unions are skeptical about management's intentions behind implementing changes and also

about their probable impact on the employees. These areas of skepticism lead to their resistance.

Management

People in managerial positions often feel insecure with the thought of empowering their team

members. They feel an empowered employee may lead management to lose authority. In addition, other factors, such as personal values, ego, lack of quality training, and organizational structure, may

also lead to resistance. However, it is important for management to recognize the value of

participative management and employee empowerment in the process of implementing total quality

management.

With active participation and constructive feedback from employees, a company not only advances its

competitive advantage, but it also implements a crucial asset in motivating its workforce.  The important tools for facilitating employee empowerment are brainstorming sessions, nominal group

techniques, quality circles, suggestion boxes, and even talking about speci�c problems in group

meetings.  Those who are most directly involved with the day-to-day activities of the business often

have some of the best suggestions for improving day-to-day operations.