THE PSYCHOLOGY OF EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT 
28 March 2017
Organisational behaviourist and three times Queen’s University Belfast graduate Dr Rozana Ahmad Huq, has written a new book which looks at the complexities of worker enablement.
Published by Routledge, The Psychology of Employee Empowerment – Concepts, Critical Themes and a Framework for Implementation – investigates the concept by combining themes from the disciplines of management and social work.
The complexities of employee empowerment have been largely underestimated and organisations often struggle to put the concept into practice. Recognising that effective utilisation of human resources is a strategic issue for businesses and organisations, Dr Huq includes insights from employees and managers which highlight the positive – and negative – aspects of the matter.
Dr Huq achieved her PhD (2008) from Queen’s Management School, where the title of her thesis was: An Investigation of What Employee Empowerment Means in Theory and in Practice. While studying at Queen’s Dr Huq taught Organisational Behaviour, Leadership, Managing Change and Total Quality Management on the University’s MBA course.
Since setting up her own management and training company – RHM Training – in 1994, Dr Huq has designed and delivered training courses for several companies in the private and non-for-profit sector. She has wide experience in teaching, leadership and management training as well as providing services as an educational consultant, board director, lecturer and workshop facilitator. She also delivers one-to-one leadership development sessions to leaders and chief executives, locally and internationally.
Appointed as Non-Executive Director at the Belfast City Hospital, she was also Chair of the ArtsCare Committee at the same hospital.
The Psychology of Employee Empowerment - Concepts, Critical Themes and a Framework for Implementation
Hierarchical organisations struggle to survive. The growing trend for downsizing and merging of organisations means that they can no longer maintain the 'command and control' approach and employees are given more responsibility and expected to take decisions. However, simply burdening employees with extra responsibility without empowering them does not deliver results.
Drawing on her own research in organisations, Dr Huq investigates the concept of empowerment in a new way that combines themes from the disciplines of management and social work, the latter being a domain where empowerment is an important construct. This helps to bridge the gaps in knowledge in the management domain and draws attention to the positive and negative psychological implications for employees of the practice of empowerment that are often ignored by leaders and managers.
Ultimately, Dr Huq offers a 'practice model' to help people in management and non-management understand the new roles and behaviours that they need to adopt if empowerment is to become a reality.
A keen community volunteer, she has been a member of organisations in different capacities, from Chair to Committee Member, including Bryson House, Community Development and Health Network, the Health Promotion Agency and UK Public Health Alliance.
Dr Huq has been invited to Downing Street and to meet her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of her contribution to education and her work in the community.
Inquiries to Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office at Queen’s; tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.
Photo credit: Pixabay
Back to Main News
Top of Page