Name of Teacher: Dr Suman Solanki Course name :HRM
Semester : vi Section: A &B
Subject : Industrial relations Unit : 5
Empowerment
The process by which managers help others to acquire and use the power needed to make decisions affecting themselves and their work.
Empowerment is a process whereby an organisation allows individuals to develop to utilise their competence to distribute and influence the organizations systems and working methods to achieve and sustain continuous improvement.
Empowerment describes those values, hopes and initiatives associated with distributing authority and sharing power throughout an organisation.
Empowerment is the process of enabling employees to set their own work-related goals, make decisions and solve problems within their spheres of responsibility and authority.
In simple words, empowerment is the process of sharing power with employees.
Significance of Empowerment
1. Enhances beliefs of employees that they are influential contributors to the organisational success.
2. Employees perceive meaning of work.
3. Employees feel competent.
4. Employees derive a sense of self-determination.
5. Employees believe that they have an impact on important decisions.
6. All employees view themselves as owners of business.
7. Improved productivity in organizations.
8. Creativity and innovation can be increased.
9. Faster decision making possible.
10. Making full use of human resources available in the organisation.
11. Engaging the mind of every employee in decision making.
12. Organisation learning takes place.
Disadvantages:
1. Increased arrogance.
2. Confidential and security risk.
3. Lack of experience.
Organisational improvement through employee empowerment
1. Empowerment can strengthen motivation by providing employees with the opportunity to attain intrinsic rewards from their work such as greater sense of accomplishment and a feeling of importance.
2. Intrinsic rewards such as job satisfaction and a sense of purposeful work can be more powerful than extrinsic rewards such as higher wages or bonuses.
3. The other means by which employee empowerment can increase productivity is through better decisions. Especially when decisions require task specific knowledge, those on the front line can often better identify problems.
Problems with empowerment A. Issues with Mangers
1) Managers misunderstand it.
2) Organizations are not prepared in terms of structure, culture and rewards.
3) Managers are displeased when empowered workers make decisions that differ from their expectations.
4) Managers expect to see results without having to make a strong commitment or taking risks.
5) Managers only pay it „Lip service‟.
B. Issues with employees
1) Employees need the skills and training to manage risks and decision making.
2) Many employees don‟t want the added responsibility and accountable and are uncomfortable with “putting their racks on the line.”
3) Not all people are conscientious enough to be empowered.
Some sample questions to be practiced:
1. Define the term Industrial Relations and explain its nature and scope.
2. Explain the causes of industrial disputes and their effect on organizations.
3. Describe the functions of trade unions and state the reasons for employees joining trade unions.
4. Explain the objectives of ILO and elucidate its impact on Indian labour.
5. Elucidate the recommendations of the Reports of the National Labour Commissions.
6. Discuss the importance and procedure of collective bargaining as a method of regulating relations between employees and employers.
7. „Workers participation in management is neither feasible nor desirable under the prevailing industrial conditions in India?‟ Critically examine the statement.
8. Critically examine the effectiveness of empowerment as a tool of managing industrial relations.
9. Critically examine the effectiveness of collective bargaining in India.
10. Define quality circles and elucidate how quality circles contribute to better industrial relations.
11. Discuss the effectiveness of trade unions in fulfilling their objectives.
12. Briefly outline the various approaches to industrial relations.
13. Explain the various weapons used by labour to fight against management.
14. Explain the relevance of the World Trade Organization on industry and labour in India.
15. Describe the statutory mechanism for settlement of industrial disputes in India.
16. Critically examine empowerment as a tool available to both employees and organizations for achieving harmonious industrial relations.
17. Define the concept of Industrial Relations. Explain the importance of maintaining good industrial relations in today‟s organizations.
18. What is an industrial dispute? Explain statutory methods which are used for settling down industrial disputes in organizations.
19. Describe the growth of trade union movement in India. Explain various problems faced by trade unions.
20. Explain the objectives of World Trade Organisation (WTO) and elucidate its impact on Indian labour.
21. Explain the various weapons of labour and management which might be used in a situation of industrial conflict.
22. Discuss the concept of collective bargaining. Explain the importance of collective bargaining for employees and employers in an organization.
24. Write short notes on any three of the following:
1. Evolution of industrial Relations 2. Worker participation in management.
3. Systems approach to industrial relations.
4. International Labour Organisation (ILO).
25. Explain the contribution of various approaches to the study of industrial relations.
27. Discuss the concept of workers participation in management and how it will contribute in better decision making.
28. Briefly explain the structure of Trade Unions and also discuss the functions performed by them in an organization.
29. Elucidate the recommendations of the Reports of the National Labour Commissions.
30. Explain the relevance of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on industry and labour in India.
31. Describe the essentials of good negotiations that contribute to the success of collective bargaining and trade unions.
32. Write short notes on any three of the following:
1. Empowerment of Employees.
2. Parties to industrial relations.
3. World Trade Organisation (WTO).
4. Contractual labour
