Read this article to learn about the important characteristics and objectives of worker participation in management!
Characteristics of workers’ participation in management:
(1) Participation implies mental and emotional involvement rather than muscular activity.
(2) It motivates the employees to contribute their maximum and provides an opportunity to workers to direct their initiative and creativity towards the objectives of the group.
(3) It encourages people to accept responsibility for an activity as they feel self involved in the group.
Thus, we can conclude that participation provides an opportunity to every member of the organisation to contribute his brain and ingenuity as well as his physical efforts for the improvement of organisational effectiveness and at the same time enhancing his own economic welfare. It also develops in them a sense of organisational loyalty and involvement.
The main aim of business enterprises now-a-days is shifting towards maximisation of economic welfare rather than the maximisation of profits. The basic idea of labour participation in management is to get the fullest co-operation of workers. The success of such participation depends on the existence of cordial industrial relations.
It is not a matter of a man being accorded the privilege of stating a complaint or offering a suggestion, but of having a recognised responsibility for doing so because he is an employee and, therefore, a joint partner in the enterprise in which he is investing not money but his life. A close rapport is established between the employer and employees that motivates them to work together productively and co-operatively.
The following are the main objectives of workers’ participation in management:
(i) To raise productivity, production and efficiency of workers.
(ii) To improve morale of workers.
(iii) To satisfy the desire of workers for self- expression.
(iv) To promote industrial peace in the concern.
(v) To have better industrial relations and establish harmonious relations between the workers and management.
(vi) To evoke the fullest collaboration of the employees.
(vii) To encourage social education which promotes solidarity in the working class?
In a nutshell, Participation aims at increasing production and productivity to strengthen the national economy and to serve the people in a better way.