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Introducing participation: An example from the British Ports Industry
Author(s) -
WEST A. C.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of occupational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 2044-8325
pISSN - 0305-8107
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8325.1980.tb00012.x
Subject(s) - constructive , workforce , atmosphere (unit) , scheme (mathematics) , work (physics) , public relations , port (circuit theory) , business , sociology , political science , computer science , engineering , process (computing) , law , mechanical engineering , mathematical analysis , physics , mathematics , electrical engineering , thermodynamics , operating system
Participation can either be ‘imposed’ on an organization or be encouraged to develop from within through fostering an atmosphere of trust and cooperation between employees and management. This is an account of the implementation within the Port of London Authority of a scheme whose objectives were to enhance communications between all levels of the workforce in the hope that an atmosphere of mutual trust and support would develop. The Work Group Discussion Scheme, as it was called, provided a mechanism whereby problems could be tackled at local level using vertically structured discussion groups. The scheme was assessed over an 18 month period and the results indicated an improvement in communications, more constructive attitudes amongst the workforce, and a drop in industrial disputes.