Abstract
The paper first looks at the historical framework of the notion of empowerment as a facilitator of change. The paper then explores the hierarchy of empowerment, that includes the levels of individual empowerment, advocacy, psychological empowerment, political empowerment and socio-political empowerment. The paper concludes with a summary of the main points derived from this study.

Outline:
Historical Framework
Conceptual Framework
Summary

From the Paper
"Recent history has borne witness to one of the most interesting paradigm shifts within the fields of community, occupational and educational psychology. Within the past decade and a half we have seen a shift from a deficit-based model of social change to a strength-based one. At the heart of this strength-based model is the notion of individual empowerment first and foremost and subsequent collective empowerment. This empowerment is rooted in the current empowerment theory and its relationship with social change as well as new social movement theories. Rappaport (2002) defines empowerment as a process or mechanism whereby individuals, organizations and communities gain mastery over their lives. Taken in its historical context, empowerment theory and its practical application focuses on individual enlightenment which then facilitates collective empowerment, action and social change (Fairholm, 2004)."

Tags:individual, psychological, political, socio-political, empowerment, advocacy, community, environment, participation, human, services

Abstract
This paper addresses the concept that: "Tenants' empowerment is about attitudes, not structures." This is achieved through investigating the relationship that a tenant can have with their landlord in terms of their connection with the property, and the connection that the tenants can develop with their landlords. Through investigating these issues, it is demonstrated that tenants can achieve a more substantial degree of empowerment through their attitudes rather than their actual physical rights as tenants.

Tags:URBAN STUDIES / HOUSING, tenants rights empowerment

Abstract
This paper discusses the types of training needed to induce employee empowerment when transitioning to flat organizations. The paper defines the flat organization model, the use of trainers, and advantages and difficulties of the model.

From the Paper
"The flat organization is an organizational model that eliminates middle management and empowers the rank-and-file workers, instead giving them direct access to management. (Donath) This organizational structure is not appropriate for every business; large organizations can delegate more authority down the line, but cannot achieve a totally flat organization, just one that is flatter than before. (Dictionary of Marketing Terms) Likewise, small marketing firms that have homologous products and markets tend to prefer the traditional top-down organization. (Donath) Where the flat organizational model works best is in organization..."

Tags:employee empowerment, flat organizations, management strategies

Abstract
This paper considers how empowerment and participative decision making improves the decision making process within organizations. It looks at downsizing efforts that empower workers and the benefits to the organization of participative decision making.

From the Paper
"In recent years groups have become increasingly important in the American workplace as companies move toward fewer managers, more empowered workers and away from hierarchical organizational structures ..."

Tags:decision making, participative decision making, group decision making, empowerment

Abstract
This paper examines empowerment and dis-empowerment of public schools as a means of increasing student achievement. The concept of empowerment is first defined and discussed. This discussion is followed by an examination of the literature on the characteristics of both empowered and dis-empowered schools. The next section of the paper examines methods and strategies for shifting a dis-empowered school to an empowered school.

From the Paper
"This paper examines empowerment and dis-empowerment of public schools as a means of increasing student achievement. The concept of empowerment is first defined and discussed. This discussion is followed by an examination of the literature on the characteristics of both empowered and dis-empowered schools. The next section of the paper examines methods and strategies for shifting a dis-empowered school to an empowered school."

Tags:empowered schools, disempowered, student achievement, NCLB

Abstract
The paper looks at whether or not the empowerment of service workers leads to better customer service. In particular, this literature review reveals that - for the most part - the empowerment of service workers leads to greater productivity and to greater morale; however, the same review concedes that empowerment may not be best for every individual depending upon their skill-set, their cultural background, and their personality type. The paper concludes that empowerment allows hospitality businesses to achieve greater customer retention whilst achieving greater standards of customer care; on balance, profitability lies in teaching employees how they can work creatively and in an empowered fashion with clients.

Tags:workers, service, workers

Abstract
The objective of this paper is to show how employee empowerment affects organizations. Empowerment refers to the act of delegating authority along with the responsibility for accomplishing given tasks. It looks at how it is unreasonable to expect an employee to complete a task successfully unless that employee was given the authority to carry it out and how empowerment gives employees the feeling of belonging, allowing them to feel pride in their work and take ownership of tasks that may otherwise be mundane.
Outline
Abstract
Personnel Responsibility
Special Cause Variation
Shewhart Control Charts
Control
Negative Impact of Empowerment
Breakthrough
Conclusion
Resources

From the Paper
"The problems of achieving goals in business arise out of variation. The decrease in sales compared to the previous year, excessive costs when compared to the budget, and deviation of a product from the specified target are a few examples. The variation in a given outcome can come from hundreds if not thousands of causes. However, as "the grandfather of total quality management" Walter Shewhart stated, it will take several lifetimes to study all the causes that affect outcome. But if there is a way to separate the significant causes from the insignificant, it may be a reasonably good start. "

Tags:authority, quality, goals

Abstract
Exploring the intersection of women's empowerment and African philosophy is a task complicated by the converging, and overlapping, perspectives of race, class, gender, feminism and culture. As feminist critics in particular have noted in recent years, addressing women's empowerment for women of African descent requires an awareness of the degree to which western feminism has been a project defined by the race (white) and class (middle and upper-middle) of many of its practitioners. This essay will explore the topic of women's empowerment in this context, and addressing how this intersects with contemporary African philosophy. As will be argued, we can only understand women's empowerment in this context by efforts to transcend the restrictions of western cultural biases and frankly understanding the needs and perspectives of women of African descent within a non-Western, African cultural and philosophical frame.

From the Paper
"The outside of discourse looking in": Women's Empowerment and African Philosophy Exploring the intersection of women's empowerment and African philosophy is a task complicated by the converging, and overlapping, perspectives of race, class, gender, feminism and culture. As feminist critics in particular have noted in recent years, addressing women's empowerment for women of African descent requires an awareness of the degree to which western feminism has been a project defined by the race (white) and class (middle and upper-middle) of many of its practitioners. This essay will explore the topic of women's empowerment in this context, and addressing

Tags:culture, race, gender

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that a critical aspect of business today is the need to empower employees, thereby creating a healthier business from within filled with capable and self-relying team members.
The writer points out that in order to stay competitive with today's changing business world, many companies have decided to transition from an authoritarianism structure to an empowerment structure. The writer then studies methods in which it is possible to empower employees and looks at why these methods are critical for company growth and employee development. The writer concludes that the traditional idea of centralized management is fading; thus, with innovation, a decentralized leadership scheme is more likely to be practiced in today's modern businesses.

Outline:
Introduction
Problem Statement
Methodology
What is Empowerment and Where Did this Theory Originate?
How Can Companies Empower Employees and What Methods are Currently Being Used?
What is the Manager's Role in the Structure of Empowerment and How Empowerment Contributes to the Success of a Business?
Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations:

From the Paper
"This changing trend is where the concept of empowerment emerged."
"Empowerment is defined by the delegation of autonomy to employees and allowing them to have the responsibility and authority of completing the task at hand. This theory does not indicate an employee's total control over production, but it does provide them with the autonomy to make certain needed decisions. They are able to offer individual ideas and work more collectively in the planning process. Empowerment has moved beyond the principle of delegation, instead it redistributes power and decision making. This theory moves past the controls that once existed and instead allows responsibility and accountability."

Tags:leadership, team, roles, development

Abstract
This paper looks at why the empowerment of nurses will benefit not only the nurses, but the health care industry and what can be done to promote this empowerment. Specifically, the paper looks at the measures and changes that must be made in jobs, organizational styles, and workplace protocols to lead to empowerment.

From the Paper
"Exceedingly rapid technological progress has resulted in a change in our human resources and human activities environment. There have of course been changes within the healthcare environment for both licensed and unlicensed providers of care. These changes have required most workers to do more with less and place a greater emphasis on teamwork with independent decision making for each worker involved, no matter what their scope (Barker, 1990). All healthcare delivery systems are seeing dramatic changes in their manning and their organizational ladders. In order for all these changes to be managed effectively without any change in provision of quality healthcare, leaders and managers must understand how these changes and stresses affect workers' attitudes. The issues of leadership style and work related empowerment have become catch words but actually represent very important ideas (Douglas, 1995). That is fundamentally positive, referring to solutions rather than to problems and is dynamic in nature, power is taken over and given away, power is shared. Power is usually associated with a negative connotation there is an association with hierarchy, authoritarianism, and generally with the restriction of a person's freedom of action. Empowerment is an abstract concept. It is especially important as personnel resources are not being increased but rather decreased. This represents a change in the delivery of care and will require a significant transition in the nurse-manager's leadership style to help subordinates accept the adjustment in work and their new levels of productivity."

Tags:management, effectiveness, power, control, subordinates, moral, principle, personal, integrity, expertise