Communication and Involvement

Employee participation stems from the pluralist approach, whereas employee involvement stems from the unitarist approach. The unitarist approach is where the worker and manager both share the same goals. Conflict is temporary and unusual. Communication is vital. The pluralist approach alternatively involves competing groups with different interests. Conflict is frequent, but can be contained by proper rules and regulations. Employee participation is the process where employees are involved in decision making processes, rather than just simply acting on their manager’s orders. Employee involvement on the other hand is about management trying to encourage employees to be committed to the organisation and its values. Employee involvement is a range of processes that are designed to engage the support, understanding and most efficient contribution of all employees in an organisation. Employee participation is a process of employee involvement that is supposed to provide employees with the opportunity to influence and take part in decision making matters.

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http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/theory/theory.php?tID=310

Ways in which organisations can involve employees in decision making:
The ways in which organisations can involve employees in decision making, are by making them work in teams, and attend team meetings. Good communication between the manager and staff will be needed. One on one communication between a manager and an employee will also be useful. At Waitrose, staff are constantly being encouraged to use their initiative and not always look to their manager for guidance. Three examples that will help employees in decision making are brain storming suggestion boxes, financial participation and group talks.

At Waitrose, I know for a fact that they use the social networking site www.facebook.com. On this website, they publish social events and events such as the AGM (Annual General Meeting) in which employees learn about the profits that have been made during the year and they receive other facts and figures and compare them with other Waitrose’s across the country, and then Waitrose’s that are local to them. As well as this, Chrismas balls and parties, and summer balls and parties are advertised on facebook exclusively for Waitrose employees only. In order for employees to be sent messages to about these events, they must join the Waitrose group. I am currently a member of Waitrose, Worcester Park and it is the social secretary who sends out all of these messages. It is a huge advantage for companies to use these social networking sites, as it allows them to advertise both internally and externally. Internally, (like Waitrose) they are able to send out messages to certain employees notifying them of special and social events. Externally, they are able to use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to advertise to potential customers and even potential employees as many organisations now are using social networking sites to help them recruit.