Isn't getting objectives carried out through the proactive participation and
intervention of employees necessarily a progressive approach? May it no also
be a more subtle and insidious form of `tyranny' and `manipulation' ?
Chester Barnard''s The Functions of the Executive is illuminating on this.
A key issue, I think, is who defines the objectives, and in under what
conditions does
this definition take place.
Do those who engage in`proactive participation' have the opportunity and
capability to participate fully in the setting of corporate objectives?
If we can agree that they do, then I would be reassured that
manipulation has been reduced rather than reinvented and extended. For a
commentary upon the nature of empowerment that is bestowed upon others by
corporate leaders, see `Strength is
Ignorance' published in Journal of Management Studies, 1993 - see home page
(details below) for full reference.
Hugh
Hugh Willmott
Home Page :
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/close/hr22/hcwhome
Web site for Critical Management Studies Conference 1999:
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/close/hr22/cmsconference
Web site for Association for Accountancy and Business Affairs:
http://visar.csustan.edu/aaba/aaba.htm
Hugh Willmott
Professor of Organizational Analysis
Manchester School of Management
UMIST
Manchester M60 1QD
United Kingdom
Tel : 0161 200 3412
Fax : 0161 200 3505
email :
Hugh.Willmott@umist.ac.uk