The Psychology of Employee Empowerment ─ Concepts, Critical Themes and a Framework for Implementation

The complexities of employee empowerment have been largely underestimated and it is clear that organisations struggle with putting the concept into practice. Rozana Ahmad Huq recognises that effective utilisation of human resources is a strategic issue for organisations. Hierarchical organisations struggle to survive. The growing trend for downsizing and merging of organisations means that they can no longer maintain the 'command and control' approach and employees are given more responsibility and expected to take decisions. However, simply burdening employees with extra responsibility without empowering them does not deliver results. Drawing on her own research in organisations, Dr Huq investigates the concept of empowerment in a new way that combines themes from the disciplines of management and social work, the latter being a domain where empowerment is an important construct. This helps to bridge the gaps in knowledge in the management domain and draws attention to the positive and negative psychological implications for employees of the practice of empowerment that are often ignored by leaders and managers. Ultimately, the author offers a 'practice model' to help people in management and non-management understand the new roles and behaviours that they need to adopt if empowerment is to become a reality. This book is a resource for any business or other organisation genuinely interested in employee empowerment and for those with a responsibility for teaching about it.

Dr Rozana Ahmad Huq is an Organisational Behaviourist. She achieved her PhD from Queena€?s University Management School Belfast, UK. She lectured at the same University on BBA, MBA, MSSc courses and Strategy and Leadership Programme in Social Work. Her teaching subjects include Organisational Behaviour, Leadership, Employee Empowerment, Managing Change and Total Quality Management (TQM). Dr Huq, runs her own management and training company, RHM Training. She has wide experience in teaching, training and providing services as an educational consultant, board director, lecturer and workshop facilitator. She also delivers one-to-one leadership development sessions to leaders and chief executives, locally and internationally. Dr Huq has published journal articles, conference papers and books on employee empowerment. She has made a notable contribution to knowledge about employee empowerment. Dr Huq was appointed a Non-Executive Director of an NHS hospital in the UK; she was also Chair of the Arts Care Committee at the same hospital. She has given her time voluntarily to many projects. She has been a member of organisations in different capacities, from Chair to Committee Member, to name a few, such as, Bryson House, Community Development and Health Network, Health Promotion Agency, Patient's Forum, Multi-Cultural Resource Centre and UK Public Health Alliance. Dr Huq was invited to meet her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of her contribution to education and work in the community.