Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Empowerment'

This thesis is about how the front-staff in two service companies experience empowerment. Competition for business in today's society is becoming increasingly fierce, which means that they must find a way to differentiate themselves from competitors. Service has become a way to compete. Front-staff competence and ability to offer a good service is a crucial factor when the company's success is being measured.Empowerment in business is used as a tool to create motivation and satisfaction of individuals at work. Companies using empowerment can create the freedom and opportunities for employees to act at their own intelligence and discretion. By letting staff take advantage of leadership power can improve service quality because the staff is given the freedom and opportunity to act. To achieve this, companies should look to the need to educate, develop and motivate their staff so that they feel confident in meeting service. Empowerment can exist in different degrees and in different dimensions depending on the variation and standardization of the task. A standardized company is not given as much capacity for empowerment.Empowerment has both advantages and disadvantages that may affect staff as well as company performance and wellbeing. For empowerment to exist in an adequate way, it is important to ensure that the front-staff perceive the responsibilities and power that the management gives them.With this as background, we have by means of a qualitative research methodology interviewed eight respondents in the two service companies where empowerment exists in different degrees. An intense study characterizes the paper, because the interest is to go deep in the investigation and study the individual's perception.The research question is: "How does the front staff in service-oriented companies experience empowerment?"Purpose of this essay is therefore to compare how empowerment affects frontline staff in service businesses, to see if there are similarities and differences in how front-staff perceive the empowerment, depending on the degree of standardization in the company.We have summarized our findings in three main points:  Empowerment has both positive and negative effects that can exist at the same time  The experience of empowerment is dependent on trust and security in the workplace  Empowerment should be adapted to the company

Syfte: Tidigare forskning har undersökt sambandet mellan empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse och funnit att empowerment ökar arbetstillfredsställelsen. Däremot saknas forskning om hur sambandet skiljer sig åt beroende på utbildningsnivåer. Syftet är att förklara om variabeln utbildningsnivå påverkar upplevd empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse hos medarbetare i företag där styrfilosofin präglas av empowerment.   Metod: Studien utgår från en kvantitativ forskningsstrategi och en deduktiv forskningsansats. Den empiriska datainsamlingen har genomförts med en enkätundersökning där målpopulationen är företag som präglas av empowerment. Studiens urval var ändamålsenligt och bestod av totalt 503 respondenter från 31 företag. Den insamlade datan analyserades i Jamovi genom deskriptiv statistik, bivariat korrelationsanalys, och faktoranalys. SEM-analyser genomfördes sedan i SmartPLS 3. Resultatet redovisades, analyserades och utmynnade sedan till en slutsats.   Resultat & slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att det finns en skillnad mellan en hög och en låg utbildningsnivå. Respondenterna med en hög utbildningsnivå upplevde både en högre grad av empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse än respondenterna med en låg utbildningsnivå. Resultatet uppmärksammar även att det finns ett starkt positivt samband mellan empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse, samt att empowerment har en påverkan på arbetstillfredsställelse för de lågutbildade respondenterna. Vi kunde däremot varken bekräfta eller förkasta att empowerment ökar arbetstillfredsställelsen för de högutbildade respondenterna.   Examensarbetets bidrag: Resultatet har främst visat att högutbildade individer upplever både en högre grad av empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse, samt att empowerment ökar arbetstillfredsställelsen till en viss del för lågutbildade individer. Därmed är studiens teoretiska bidrag en ökad kunskap om hur en låg respektive hög utbildningsnivå förhåller sig till empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse. Studiens praktiska bidrag är att det kan vara svårare att lyckas med empowerment i företag med lågutbildade anställda jämfört med företag med högutbildade anställda. Bidraget riktar sig till ledningen i företag som syftar till att implementera empowerment eller som använder empowerment som en styrfilosofi.   Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Till framtida forskning finns det ett behov av att undersöka varför svenska högutbildade individer visade sig vara mer komplexa i hur de associerade variabler i faktoranalysen, än individerna med en låg utbildningsnivå. Det finns även ett behov att undersöka om empowerment ökar arbetstillfredsställelse för högutbildade individer då denna studie inte lyckats undersöka detta.
Aim: Previous research has examined the relationship between empowerment and job satisfaction and found that empowerment increases job satisfaction. However, there is no previous research that has examined how the relationship differs depending on the level of education. The purpose of this study is to explain if the variable educational level affects experienced empowerment and job satisfaction among employees in companies where the management philosophy is characterized by empowerment.   Method: This study is based on a quantitative research strategy and a deductive research approach. The empirical data was collected through a questionnaire survey where the target population was companies that are characterized by empowerment. The study used a judgement sample that consisted of 503 respondents from 31 companies. The data was analyzed in Jamovi through descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation analysis and factor analysis. SEM- analyzes was then performed in SmartPLS 3. The result was reported, analyzed and then concluded to a conclusion.   Result & Conclusions: The results of this study shows that there is a difference between a high and a low level of education. The respondents with a high level of education experienced both a higher degree of empowerment and job satisfaction than the respondents with a low level of education. The result also draws attention to the fact that there is a strong positive correlation between empowerment and job satisfaction, and that empowerment increases job satisfaction to a certain extent for the respondents with a low level of education. However, we could neither confirm nor reject that empowerment increases the job satisfaction for the highly educated respondents.   Contribution of the thesis: The result has mainly shown that highly educated individuals experience both a higher degree of empowerment and job satisfaction, and that empowerment increases job satisfaction to a certain extent for low-educated individuals. The theoretical contribution of this study is an increased knowledge of how the two levels of education relate to empowerment and job satisfaction. The study's practical contribution is that it can be more difficult to succeed with empowerment in companies with low-educated employees compared to companies with highly educated employees. The contribution is of interest to the management in companies that want to implement or who already use empowerment as a management philosophy.   Suggestions for future research: For further research, there is a need to examine why the Swedish individuals with a high education turned out to be more complex in how they associated variables in the factor analysis, than the individuals with a low level of education. There is also a need to examine whether empowerment increases job satisfaction for individuals with a high education, since this study failed to examine this.

Vårt syfte med detta arbete är att ge en inblick i hur empowerment som styrkoncept fungerar i praktiken. Detta undersöker vi för att nuvarande och framtida ledare ska få en bättre förståelse för empowerment och de effekter som uppstår när det används, för att kunna bidra till att de får större nytta av konceptet i framtiden. En hermeneutisk tolkningsmetod är använd för att uppnå det syfte vi har med arbetet. Genomförandet av arbetet är baserat på en kvalitativ metod, där en fallstudie med fem intervjuer utförts. Då arbetet kommit fram till ändpunkten har vi fått en förståelse för att de medarbetare i en organisation som använder empowerment som styrkoncept till största del ser på konceptet så positivt som teorierna säger om det. Vi ser att det är av stor vikt att organisationer ser till helheten i konceptet för att det ska ge de positiva effekter som det sägs ge. Denna helhet vill vi påpeka ser olika ut i alla organisationer beroende på vilka individer som finns i den samt hur organisationens andra förutsättningar ser ut.

På dagens marknad måste företagen kunna möta både de yttre och inre kraven som ställs på marknaden för att maximera sin avkastning. Ett företag som i allra högsta grad står inför förändrade yttre krav är Posten. Hur kan Posten kombinera yttre krav och omständigheter från kunder, marknadsförhållanden och ägarnas vinstintresse med de inre kraven, det vill säga en tillfredställd personal? Hur kan man skapa en bra företagskultur som gynnar både ägarna och de anställda? En teori som hävdar att det går att möta de yttre kraven samtidigt som de inre kraven uppfylls benämns: empowerment. Syftet med denna uppsats är att utifrån ett empowermentperspektiv analysera hur några lokala chefer på Posten jobbar med sin personalpolitik rent praktiskt. Empowermentbegreppet operationaliserades till att gälla tre nycklar angående ”information”, ”gränser/riktlinjer” och ”självgående lag”. Utifrån dessa områden intervjuades produktionschefer på fem lokala brevbärarkontor om Postens personalpolitik. Forskningsstrategin som användes har en kvalitativ inriktning. Undersökningsdesignen bestod av en fallstudie. Forskningsansatsen är deduktiv i förhållandet mellan teori och empiri. Syftet är dock inte att bekräfta eller falsifiera en hypotes utan istället söka en ökad förståelse för hur empowerment som begrepp tar sig uttryck i Postens personalpolitik. Slutsatserna för dessa fem postkontor visade bland annat att Posten har påbörjat detta förändringsarbete för att anpassas till de yttre kraven, men har en del kvar att jobba med i de inre kraven. Framtidens brevbärare behöver utvecklas framförallt i sitt arbetssätt. Det nya processtänket förutsätter att man behärskar flera moment. Posten har möjligtvis en viss strukturell empowerment, då deras nya arbetssätt är tänkt att ge medarbetarna större ansvar och mer handlingsutrymme så de kan agera mer självgående. Det finns dock brister i det psykologiska empowerment. Alla nycklar är ett måste för att uppnå empowerment. Nyckel 3 är inte uppfylld på grund av att brevbärarna inte förstått sin roll (nyckel 2) tillfullo. De kan dock komma att förstå sin roll om denna tydliggörs med riktig och nyttig information (nyckel 1).

Bakgrund: Patientempowerment innebär för patienten ett större ansvarstagande och delaktighet i vården än vad som traditionellt förekommer. För att detta ska bli möjligt krävs att vårdpersonal låter patienten ingå i vårdteamet och vågar ifrågasätta sin egen maktposition. Framtidens generationer kommer med stor sannolikhet att ställa allt större krav på inflytande vilket talar för behov av förändring. Syfte: Hur upplever KOL-patienter information och stöd från vårdpersonal? Metod: Kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med induktiv ansats. Innehållsanalysen av resultatet genomfördes på en manifest nivå med hjälp av Graneheim och Lundman, (2008). Resultat: KOL-skola upplevs av patienter som en utbildningsform där man känner sig delaktig. Tillit till vårdpersonal är viktig om man ska kunna utveckla en vårdrelation med ömsesidigt ansvar. Vårdpersonal bör inte skuldbelägga patienten för att få resultat. Olika patienter har olika egenkapacitet och dessa bör tas tillvara. Upplevelser av kunskapsbrist kunde ses hos både patienter och vårdpersonal. Slutsats: En ökad medvetenhet kring empowerment kan öka patientsäkerheten och skapa en mer jämlik sjukvård.
Background: Patient empowerment gives the patient more responsibility and involvement in his or her own care than what traditionally exists in western health care. To make able grater patient empowerment, it is required that health care professionals allow the patient to be part of the medical team and for both patient and care giver to question their own position of power. Future generations will most likely place increasing demands on power and participation, which indicates a need for change. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine how patients with COPD experience information and support given from health professionals. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with an inductive approach. The analysis of the results was carried out on a manifest level using Graneheim and Lundmans method (2008). Result: COPD group education sessions are perceived by patients as a form of learning where one feels involved. Trust in health professionals is essential if we are to develop a treatment relationship with mutual responsibilities. Health professionals should not blame the patient to get results. Different patients have different self-efficacy and these abilities ought to be utilized. Perceptions of lack of knowledge were seen among both patients and health professionals. Conclusion: An increased awareness of empowerment can increase patient safety and create a more equitable health care.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2007.
Thesis research directed by: Dept. of Philosophy. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

This thesis aims to arrive at an informed understanding of how workers, by virtue of their relational power in the production process, exercise self-empowerment in their daily organizational interactions. Drawing on the postmodern conceptualization of power which emphasizes the relational nature of power (Foucault, 1977, 1978; Clegg, 1989; Hansard and Parker, 1993; Alvesson and Deetz, 2000; Joregensen, 2002), this study used a postmodern genealogical methodology focusing on local knowledges and realities of workers to examine the strategies of self-empowerment. The thesis also draws on the epistemology of postmodernism which suggests that knowledge is subjectively represented and cannot escape regimes of power. The research demonstrates that the postmodern arguments of multiple fragmented identities and workers' embeddedness in global and local discourses provide an in-depth understanding to these strategies. Being constituted of multiple fragmented identities as a result of discourses at both macro and micro levels, workers use shifting strategies of self-empowerment to create coherence between their respective identities, to marginalize and suppress other less important identities based on reflexive prioritization, and to diffuse any moral ambivalence resulted from their own actions.

Abstract ______________________________________________________________________ Title: A study about creating understanding for different kinds of empowerment Level: Bachelors thesis in Business Administration, 15 credits Author: Fredrik Legovic Supervisor: Tomas Källquist Date: 2014 - June Aim: The main purpose of this study is to increase the understanding for different kinds of empowerment and how it affects the staff in the public sector. Method: The choice of method was based on the research aim. The method used to meet the objective was qualitative. The qualitative study was conducted with a hermeneutic basis, where individuals were asked to describe their experience of empowerment and how they feel affected of it. This thesis has a deductive approach, where existing theories dealing empowerment formed the basis for the design of interview substrate, which is then paired with the empirical evidence, based on this the conclusions was drawn. Result & Conclusion: What separates the different kinds of empowerment and how it affect the staff depends most of all on how the management chooses to communicate and share information with their staff. Suggestions for future research: A study regarding managers that works with different kinds of empowerment, and how that affects them, could be regarded as an interesting future research. Contribution of thesis: It shows that different kinds of empowerment affect the staff in different ways, which I made clear to the readers. Keywords: empowerment, thinking skills, relations and organizational - structure and theory

Studiens syfte var att undersöka huruvida ett pilotprojekt bestående av en ny typ av medarbetar- och lönesamtal i Sandvikens kommun givit någon effekt på rolltydlighet, empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse. Vidare var syftet att undersöka sambanden mellan rolltydlighet, empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse. En enkät besvarades av 62 förskollärare. Genom t-test undersöktes skillnaden mellan förskollärare som deltar i projektet (N=34) och andra förskollärare (N=28) gällande dessa variabler, men inga signifikanta skillnader kunde visas. En multivariat regressionsanalys visade i enlighet med tidigare forskning ett samband mellan rolltydlighet och arbetstillfredsställelse, men något samband mellan empowerment och arbetstillfredsställelse visades inte. Relationerna analyserades med en stiganalys som visade att rolltydlighet medierar 64 % av effekten av empowerment på arbetstillfredsställelse. Rolltydlighet förklarar 33 % av variansen i arbetstillfredsställelse och slutsatsen är att vikten av rollförtydligande information till medarbetare är av väldigt stor betydelse.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether a project with a new type of performance appraisal in Sandviken Municipality affects role clarity, empowerment and job satisfaction. The further aim was to investigate the relationship between role clarity, empowerment and job satisfaction. A survey was answered by 62 preschool teachers. Student’s t-test analyzed the difference in these variables between the preschool teachers from the project (N=34) and other preschool teachers (N=28) but no significant differences were found. A multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between role clarity and job satisfaction in accordance with previous research, but there were no relationship between empowerment and job satisfaction to be found. The relationships were analyzed further with a path analysis that showed that empowerment is mediated by role clarity. Role clarity explains 33 % of the variance in job satisfaction and the conclusion is therefore that information to the employees containing role clarification is of great importance.

My objective in the proceeding paper is to qualitatively analyze the conditions of children since the child population faces severe discrimination with few laws created and enforced to protect it, especially when most societal systems are predicated on ageism (a form of discrimination based on age). The most comprehensive child policy present on an international level is the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). This also includes the CRC's three Optional Protocols (OPs), which countries can also ratify for further protections or address emerging issues; these are OP number one: the safeguarding of children from armed conflict, OP number two: the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography, and OP number three: the opening of communications procedures for children with complaints of violations. Because of the progressiveness of the Convention and its Protocols, if ratified and adhered to by a country's government or if at least followed by those that have not ratified it, children's conditions would progressively improve. My primary case studies include El Salvador, Costa Rica, the United States; and I also touch upon Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Norway, and Canada. The conditions of children in neighboring Central American countries, El Salvador and Costa Rica, are compared with those in the U.S. By measuring the level of each country's fulfillment of key provisions and concepts within the CRC and the Protocols, despite the U.S not ratifying the core body of the CRC, I qualify the conditions of these country's children. The first Optional Protocol is especially pertinent to El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Philippines since there are extremely high rates of child sexual exploitation in these countries. This is especially the case for the Philippines, since UNICEF estimates that one million children per year are trafficked out of Southeast Asia alone. The second Optional Protocol is especially pertinent to El Salvador since the Salvadorian community and its government are still recovering from the country's civil war and the participation of children in this conflict. Out of all of my case studies, Costa Rica is the only state that has adopted the third Optional Protocol (Melton), again demonstrating the country's progressiveness not only in valuing the child's voice, but more generally in human rights.

The analysis showed that the cultural and social backgrounds of each country are leading variables (other variables including standing law and economic systems in each country and inertia that follows after major policies are ratified) that drive the country's views and subsequent treatment of children; and the ratifying countries, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, and Norway also confirm this conclusion. Thus mere ratification of the CRC by a country is insufficient in ensuring children's rights under its provisions. In my concluding chapter, I look to leading international examples of child welfare promoters, Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway, to offer suggestions on how local and national governments can better actualize and support positive conditions for children.

This thesis further defines how to reach Interactional Empowerment through design for users. Interactional Empowerment is an interaction design program within the general area of affective interaction, focusing on the users’ abil­ity to reflect, express themselves and engage in profound meaning-making. This has been explored through design of three systems eMoto, Affective Di­ary and Affective Health, which all mirror users’ emotions or bodily reactions in interaction in some way. From these design processes and users’ encoun­ters with the system I have extracted one experiential quality, Evocative Bal­ance, and several embryos to experiential qualities. Evocative Balance refers to interaction experiences in which familiarity and resonance with lived expe­rience are balanced with suggestiveness and openness to interpretation. The development of the concept of evocative balance is reported over the course of the three significant design projects, each exploring aspects of Interaction­al Empowerment in terms of representing bodily experiences in reflective and communicative settings. By providing accounts of evocative balance in play in the three projects, analyzing a number of other relevant interaction design experiments, and discussing evocative balance in relation to existing con­cepts within affective interaction, we offer a multi-grounded construct that can be appropriated by other interaction design researchers and designers. This thesis aims to mirror a designerly way of working, which is recognized by its multigroundedness, focus on the knowledge that resides in the design pro­cess, a slightly different approach to the view of knowledge, its extension and its rigour. It provides a background to the state-of-the-art in the design communi­ty and exemplifies these theoretical standpoints in the design processes of the three design cases. This practical example of how to extend a designer’s knowledge can work as an example for design researchers working in a similar way.

QC 20150202

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program, 2006.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-101).
Political participation and community involvement in the United States have declined steadily and significantly over the past four decades, and some attribute the fall to new media, such as television and the Internet. This thesis is a study of new technologies and their impact on political and community involvement. I-Neighbors.org is a technology allowing individuals register a free website and email list for their neighborhood. Through a particular feature of I-Neighbors called GovLink users can contact their elected officials for free. This thesis is based on a study of the behavior of I-Neighbors and GovLink users, looking for evidence that these technologies affect community involvement and political participation. Data gathered through surveys, the United States Census, and a short case study shows that new media can have a profound impact on community dialogue and political involvement.
by Jacob William Faber.
S.M.

The thesis examines the nature and effectiveness of the communications system by which information about science reaches those not professionally involved with the subject. The range and diversity of individual engagements with science, has been explored, as have the links between such engagements and people's other non-professional activities and objectives.

It is evident that empowerment is in widespread use as a management tool in international organisations. A comprehensive literature review identified that empowerment exists as two distinct constructs: relational empowerment and psychological empowerment. Building on this delineation, existing literature was used to develop a conceptual model of the antecedents and consequences of the two empowerment constructs. Furthermore, the impact of national culture was considered, resulting in a set of testable hypotheses concerning the cross-cultural differences in the relationships between empowerment and its antecedents and consequences. A quantitative study was undertaken to test the hypothesised conceptual model. Data were collected from India and the UK, via drop-off self-administered surveys from front-line employees of both an indigenous and multinational bank in the two cultures, achieving a total of 626 fully usable responses across the four samples. Rigorous scale development for all samples was undertaken and measurement invariance examined. Following this, the conceptual model was tested using latent variable path analysis. The results for the model were both encouraging and surprising. Similar results regarding the effects of relational empowerment and psychological empowerment were found across the two cultures. However, an examination of the antecedents to relational empowerment produced significantly different results across the cultures. Relational empowerment was found to have higher practical value as it had a significant positive effect on employee job satisfaction levels across both cultures.

The Juvenile Diabetes Empowerment Center is a business located in the city of Los Angeles, Ca that focuses on educating children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus about their condition. The company offers a place where children can spend an entire day learning and connecting with other children who share the same condition. Education is offered by means of formal lecture, small group discussion involving therapeutic communication, and educational video games developed using BrainPoP software. The goal of the company is to empower children living with diabetes through teaching them how to independently manage their condition effectively. The business plan gives an in-depth description of how the Juvenile Diabetes Empowerment Center operates and discusses the company?s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and regulatory issues. Furthermore, financial assumptions are explained in detail and an excel spreadsheet is attached displaying the company?s increasing cash valuation trend during the first three years of operation. The financial development of the Juvenile Diabetes Empowerment Center will allow the company to help empower children with diabetes both physically and emotionally while continuing to grow and offer a valuable service to the community.

The diploma thesis aims on the employee empowerment, both the psychological empowerment (PE) and its antecedents - the structuctural empowerment (SE) and the leadership empowerment behaviour (LEB). The theoretical part gives a definition and an overview of the above mentioned terms including studies that deal with their relations, and also it describes consequences of the empowerment that can be on the individual, team or organizational level. Based on knowledge from the literature research the comprehensive model of the empowerment was build. In the second part there are analyzed following relations: the structural - psychological empowerment relation, the leadership empowerment behaviour - psychological empowerment relation and the structural empowerment - leadership empowerment behaviour relation. For obtaining the data the questionnaire was used. The results pointing at some potentionally problematic parts of empowerment in the organizations are introduced in the discussion and the conclusion.

O programa de Empowerment Parental Pós-Natal (EPPN) surgiu com o intuito de esclarecer, apoiar e aumentar a confiança dos pais num período de vida tão especial como é o nascimento de um filho. Trata-se de uma intervenção de enfermagem desenvolvida numa instituição onde apenas existia este tipo de suporte no período pré-natal e julgou-se útil alargar para o pós-parto o processo de (in)formação dos pais, contribuindo em todo o percurso de transição para a parentalidade. O programa de EPPN conta com sessões teórico-práticas onde para além de se abordarem temáticas de interesse para o casal e pertinentes para o momento, também se realizam exercícios físicos que contribuem para o retorno à forma física pré-gestacional e melhoria do bem-estar físico, mental e social; ABSTRACT:The Postnatal Parental Empowerment (PPE) program emerged in order to clarify, support and increase the confidence of parents in a lifetime as special as the birth of a child. This is a nursing intervention developed in an institution where there was just this kind of support in the prenatal period and it was deemed useful to extend to postpartum, the process of parent training, contributing in all the transition to parenthood. The PPE program has theoretical-practical sessions where, in addition to addressing topics of interest for the couple and for the relevant time, also perform physical exercises that contribute to the return to pre-pregnancy fitness and improves physical, mental and social welfare.

This dissertation provides a grounded examination of an evolving geographic information systems (GIS) discourse to examine how it affects decision-making processes in the context of resource management and urban planning issues, and whether the use of GIS is empowering or marginalizing for social groups involved in these processes. By using Foucault's genealogical and critical approaches to study discourse, GIS discourse is reconstructed. From the genealogy approach four discontinuities, the role of positivism, the social construction of GIS technology, the role of GIS manufacturers and vendors, and the institutionalization of GIS are examined to show how they have shaped the discourse. The critical approach uncovers how GIS discourse limits participation in decision-making processes through three systems of exclusions: prohibition, rejection and will to truth. These systems of exclusion legitimate particular knowledge, values and views that can be readily incorporated into a GIS. Typically it is the knowledge, values and views held by more dominant social groups that are privileged by GIS discourse, since they can be expressed in terms that are readily digitizable with no distortion in meaning. Hence, decisions based on the use of GIS tend to empower these groups because outcomes are in line with their interests. Using the Riparian Habitat Protection Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan from Pima County, Arizona as case studies, this dissertation shows that GIS discourse systematically marginalizes weaker social groups. GIS discourse establishes the boundaries of the debates by shaping the way in which these issues were framed, dictating the data to use and the criteria to evaluate the data, and legitimating the participation of certain social groups. In both case studies social groups who argued from outside these boundaries were marginalized. An examination of power relations among actors reveals which actors can exercise power through decision-making, and that GIS discourse attempts to conceal moments when conscious decisions are made regarding the use of GIS. These moments are opportunities for contestations to occur, but since GIS discourse attempts to hide them, the use of GIS appears to be natural. GIS discourse is also articulated and reinforced through its intersection with local political and economic discourses.

The purpose of our study is to examine the case managers reasoning and descriptions of empowerment as a method in their social work from a comprehensively perspective including family members. To manage with this purpose we interviewed two case managers, two clients with mental disabilities and five family members. We have come to the conclusion that the case managers works more consist of advocacy than empowerment. Despite that we have found that the long term goal for the case mangers work is to give the clients tools for empowerment. Our results also show that the clients feel that they have gained and increased their ability to do things by themselves and to be a part of the community. The family members feel that they have been empowered because of that the case managers have given them advises of how they can support the clients in a better way, which have released them from family burdens.

This study examines the impact an empowerment strategy may have when applied to public sector employees delivering Environmental Services. The study employs a case study method as its central research strategy with ten sample local authorities chosen as strategic informants. The key issues considered were the relevance of the appropriate structure within the organisation, the importance of employee engagement, the impact of the management or leadership style, and the opportunity for implementation of an empowerment strategy. Primary data collection was through twenty eight semi-structured interviews including Heads of Service, Service Managers, Supervisors and Front Line Operational Employees. Secondary data included Best Value Reviews, Comprehensive Performance Assessments, as well as Annual Audit Inspection Letters specific to the chosen sample. The research findings support the assumption that an empowered and empowering workforce can contribute to service improvement and also support the assumptions that other key drivers must also be in place to enable and facilitate that improvement. The research recognises those additional key drivers as engagement, corporate ambition, leadership style, training, resources, external constraints, task complexity, rewards and levels of and opportunities for innovation that contribute to the performance level of the organisation. Some or all of these drivers are evident in the sample authorities both from assessment reports as well as interview data. The research findings also suggest that there are many interpretations of empowerment with the most common understanding being simply the opportunity to change the way things are done but only after prior consultation with line managers. Line managers in the study group wanted to voice support for empowerment but in reality their actions fell short of an explicit strategy with a clear definition. Involvement in decision making by the front line employees was evident but fell short of a declaration of empowerment. The golden thread of empowerment appears to be dangled just out of reach of this group. The study contributes to existing empowerment literature but also to the specific impact of empowerment in a public service environment. It is important because it focuses on a service area that is experienced and used by the vast majority of citizens. The impact of poor or declining environmental services as well as high quality and improving environmental services is immediately noticeable by all that experience it. It is a service where a strategy of empowerment should bring about a noticeable change in quality.

Youth empowerment programs (YEPs)—programs that build on young people's strengths and engage them in decision-making—have gained global attention as a strategy to improve a range of emotional, social, and behavioral outcomes. Guided by the MRC Framework for Complex Interventions, this dissertation employed a mixed-methods approach to synthesize and contribute to the evidence base on impacts of YEPs on adolescent development. This dissertation includes a systematic review of the effects of YEPs on self-efficacy and self-esteem and a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a YEP in Jordan. Implementation and process research was also integrated to better understand impact study results and investigate issues for the dissemination of youth empowerment methodology. In the review, three studies were included from 8,789 citations. The limited data meta-analyzed did not show an effect on self-efficacy (95% CI = -0.42 to 1.86; z = 1.23). None of the three studies independently showed significant intervention effects on the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes showed mixed results. The RCT assessed the effects of an empowerment-based non-formal education program for out-of-school Arab youth. The study included 127 participants, mean age of 15.9 (SD = 1.62), and data were collected at baseline and 4-month follow-up. No significant intervention effects were observed for developmental assets (e.g., self-efficacy or social skills). Analysis did show a positive intervention effect on SDQ conduct problems (95% CI = 0.13 to 1.48; d = .57); effects were mostly attributable to changes in the younger (13-15) age group. Subgroup analysis with implementation study data indicated that a higher level of program empowerment appeared related to better outcomes. Differences in implementation and attendance across program sites may have diluted intervention effects; relationships between these variables and outcomes should be investigated in future studies with appropriate statistical power and research design. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Community Based monitoring (CBM): How facilitators can help Dalit and Adivassi communities in rural villages to participate in government programs to improve their health, educate their children, receive social security benefits and pensions, access rural work programs, enroll in pre and post natal care programs, and buy from government sponsored discount shops for basic necessities. In many parts of rural India the Dalit (lower caste) and Adivassi (tribal) populations are unjustly discriminated against and denied access to many government sponsored programs that could greatly improve their lives. Unnati is a NGO based in Gujarat with a location in Rajasthan. From the Rajasthan office, Unnati and partner organizations worked through facilitators to help citizens in 50 different villages form citizen collectives. These collectives were trained in basic community based monitoring techniques. Through CBM (Community Based Monitoring), these citizens with help from their facilitators, Unnati, and partner NGOs begin taking a more active role in six government sponsored programs or schemes. The facilitator manual I helped create is being used to further train current facilitators in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The manual will also be shared with other NGOs so that this program can be replicated with ease. The manual consists of an introduction to CBMs, criteria for being an Unnati facilitator, the facilitator roles and responsibilities, facilitator and village collectives’ goals, and a case study of two villages. Unnati asked me to undertake this project so that documentation exists for best practices as the CBM project continues. The CBM project began in April 2011. Survey results were recorded beginning in May. In June, surveys were reformatted and the current format has remained in place till December of 2011. Additionally, a part of the manual includes survey results as a model of correct and incorrect ways to document information as well as to show the importance of each question and what it indicates in terms of overall community health.

First Semester: My thesis project is about showing women’s empowerment through their sexuality and comfort within their bodies own bodies. In our society women’s eroticism is seen as taboo and women are taught to turn away from the exploration of the erotic as a source of power within themselves. The erotic is often confused and misunderstood, it is an emotion and sense of empowerment that has been named by men and used against women. It’s now difficult to recognize that the erotic can even have a sense of empowerment for women, because strong women have been taught through our society to be viewed as dangerous. As Audre Lorde, a feminist writer states, “The erotic is a resource within each of us that lies in a deeply female and spiritual plane, firmly rooted in the power of our unexpressed or unrecognized feeling. In order to perpetuate itself, every oppression must corrupt or distort those various sources of power within the culture of the oppressed that can provide energy for change. For women, this has meant a suppression of the erotic as a considered source of power and information within our lives” (Lorde). A woman’s strength comes from her sexuality. Once women begin to believe in this concept, they will begin to require this deep powerful sensation from all aspects of their lives and will not settle for anything less. Women should embrace their sexuality and use it as a sense of strength, instead of falsely believing that they can only be strong by suppressing this eroticism. My project is based on a collaborative experience with the models about what their sexuality means to them, and how they can show this through a camera. These photographs are meant to be raw and real; they are representations of real women who have chosen to show the viewers their own sexuality in the way in which they see best fits their sexual personality and comfort with their own bodies. The writings from the models on the back of the photographs show their own struggles with their sexuality. It may make the viewers feel uncomfortable, but this is the point. We are working towards being able to live in a society where women can be sexual if they choose to be. This is still a working progress, and having to view photographs that make one uncomfortable, may be the first step in change. Second Semester: Visual Poetic Abstractions: A Close Photographic Rendering of The Female Body: My personal thesis project shifted after first semester ended. Second semester I decided to continue the question of the body, but step away from the cultural views and instead start to dissect the body in it’s natural form. The project is a close examination of the formalist aspects of the body, including a self-evaluation of what the body means to me. This project resulted in a series of close-up photographs that will help the viewer in seeing portions of the body in ways they have not before. Some photographs will even be unrecognizable as to what part of the body the photograph is representing. This is important because it leads the viewer to examine each photograph for what the beauty of the photo entails, and not for their previous cultural understandings of body parts prior to viewing. The idea behind the black and white photographs is so the viewer again dissects the photograph without the context of color – for example skin no longer can be recognized as skin when the color context is taken away from these photographs. Within this project, I have paid specific detail to the poetic formalist view of the body, dissecting different body parts to create awe and wonderment. The photographs are an anatomical view of the body in its most raw and poetic form.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A premise of this thesis is that too much emphasis is still placed on dealing with the crisis of housing provision, rather than planning for housing development in South Africa. Little consideration is given to the economic improvement of the housing beneficiaries. The following research question was posed: What can and should be done in order for housing beneficiaries to become economically empowered? Government has the obligation to enhance and maintain the personal social welfare of its inhabitants. Housing is part of a package of social welfare services that includes physical health as well as the incorporeal element within a human being. Housing is also a process of how people came to be housed, starting at the moment when they first apply for a house. Economic empowerment should be linked to the four dimensions of development, i.e. equity, capacity-building, participation, self-reliance. Equity leads to economic empowerment by providing equal access to economic opportunities. capacity-building has aspects of developing skills, providing access to, and establishing supportive structures for economic empowerment. Participation is concerned with achieving power to influence decisions. Finally, self-reliance is linked to economic empowerment because it refers to the ability of people to produce most of its basic needs as well as producing surpluses with which to trade for those commodities and services which it does not produce efficiently itself (Burkey, 1993:51). Economic empowerment of housing beneficiaries implies a micro, individual level focus of economic development. According to Gildenhuys (1993:26) economic welfare refers to the development of the economic and material welfare and prosperity of the individual. Apart from a micro focus, a multi-objective focus is required for sustainability. According to Dalal-Clayton and Bass (2000:12), sustainable development entails balancing economic, social and environmental objectives. Finally, there are two dimensions to economic empowerment, namely, empowerment of the housing beneficiaries, as well as empowerment of development facilitators. Evidence of shortcomings of development projects relating to economic empowerment was provided in this thesis by means of applying the findings of an empirical research project in Wesbank to economic empowerment. The research explored the management processes that were implemented that eventually resulted in outcomes not being desirable. It was explained that the initial "scattering" of opportunities to emerging contractors was not part of a concerted approach for the primary beneficiaries to become economically empowered. This housing development project did not only fail to ensure economic empowerment, but also denied the housing beneficiaries what little economic activity they were involved in prior to the move. The Wesbank evidence was also linked to the views and findings of various authoritative sources that confirmed that government development projects in general, have an unfortunate track record when it comes to economic empowerment of so-called beneficiaries. Two case studies from the United States were used to illustrate that integrated development provides the context for the economic empowerment of housing beneficiaries. Four economic development foci then provided the framework within which solutions were formulated: residential dispersal and mobility, enhancing the capacity of housing beneficiaries, investing in economic empowerment of women, and changing the mindset of the developers. This framework embodies the how of economic empowerment of housing beneficiaries.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Aanname van hierdie tesis is dat te veel klem steeds geplaas word op die hantering van krisisse t.o.v behuisingsvoorsiening, eerder as beplanning vir behuisingsontwikkeling, met min inagneming vir ekonomiese bemagtiging van behuisingsbegunstigdes. Die volgende navorsingsvraag word gestel: Wat kan en moet gedoen word ten einde ekonomiese bemagtiging vir behuisingsbegunstigdes te bewerkstellig? Regerings het 'n plig om die persoonlike sosiale welsyn van landsinwoners te bevorder en te handhaaf. Behuising is deel van 'n pakket van sosiale welsynsdienste wat fisiese gesondheid sowel as die psigiese element van mens wees insluit. Behuising is ook 'n proses wat begin die oomblik wanneer 'n persoon die eerste keer aansoek doen vir 'n huis. Ekonomiese bemagtiging moet gekoppel word aan die vier dimensies van ontwikkeling, naamlik gelykheid, kapasiteitsbou, deelname, en onafhanklikheid. Gelykheid lei tot ekonomiese bemagtiging deurdat dit gelyke toegang tot ekonomiese geleenthede bevorder. Kapasiteitsbou sluit in ontwikkeling van vaardighede, verskaffing van toegang, en die oprig van ondersteunende strukture vir ekonomiese bemagtiging. Deelname bevorder die toename in mag om besluite te beïnvloed. Onafhanklikheid word gekoppel aan ekonomiese bemagtiging omdat dit verwys na die vermoë van mense om self in die meeste van hul basiese behoeftes te voorsien. Ekonomiese bemagtiging van behuisingsbegunstigdes impliseer 'n mikro, individuele vlak fokus op ekonomiese ontwikkeling. Volgens Gildenhuys (1993:26) verwys ekonomiese welvaart na die ontwikkeling van die ekonomiese en materiële welvaart en vooruitstrewendheid van die individu. Behalwe 'n mikro fokus, is 'n multi-doelwit fokus ook noodsaaklik vir volhoubaarheid. Volhoubare ontwikkeling behels die balansering van ekonomiese, sosiale en omgewings doelwitte. Daar is twee dimensies van ekonomiese bemagtiging, naamlik bemagtiging van die behuisingsbegunstigdes, sowel as bemagtiging van ontwikkelingsfasiliteerders. Bewyse van tekortkominge in ontwikkelingsprojekte aangaande ekonomiese bemagtiging word voorsien d.m.v die toepassing van bevindinge van 'n empiriese navorsingsprojek in Wesbank op ekonomiese bemagtiging. Die navorsing het die bestuursprosesse ondersoek wat gevolg was in die projek en uiteindelik ook veroorsaak het dat die uitkomste onwenslik was. Die aanvanklike verspreiding van geleenthede teenoor opkomende kontrakteurs was nie deel van 'n gefokusde plan vir die primêre begunstigdes om ekonomies bemagtig te word nie. Die behuisingsprojek het nie net daarin gefaal om ekonomiese bemagtiging te bewerkstellig nie, maar het ook die bietjie ekonomiese aktiwiteit waarin begunstigdes betrokke was voor die skuif na Wesbank, weggeneem. Die bewyse in Wesbank word ook gekoppel aan die sieninge en bevindinge van verskeie gesaghebbende bronne wat bevestig dat regeringsontwikkelingsprojekte oor die algemeen 'n swak rekord het wat betref ekonomiese bemagtiging van sogenaamde begunstigdes. Twee gevallestudies van die VSA is na verwys om te illustreer dat geïntegreerde ontwikkeling die konteks verskaf vir ekonomiese bemagtiging van behuisings begunstigdes. Vier ekonomiese bemagtiging fokus areas verskaf 'n raamwerk waarin oplossings geformuleer is: verspreiding en mobiliteit, verbetering van kapasiteit van begunstigdes, ekonomiese bemagtiging van vroue, en verandering van die denkpatroon van ontwikkelingsfasiliteerders. Hierdie raamwerk stel voor die hoe van ekonomiese bemagtiging van behuisingsbegunstigdes.

This study has examined concepts of empowerment as they relate to young people's health. Beginning with an analysis of recent theories of power, the thesis offers a critical exploration of the conceptualisation of empowerment and identifies how current uses of the term appear to have moved away from many of their original theoretical underpinnings. Identifying these theoretical tensions provided the impetus for an empirical enquiry which sought to critically question the relationship between empowerment and young people's health. The goal of the investigation was to reveal the possibilities for, and limitations of, empowerment among young people. Informed by an interpretivist epistemology and drawing upon ethnographic methods, data were collected from young people aged 15-16 years through focus group discussions, individual interviews and observational data in a school and surrounding community settings. Themes drawn from the research were analysed for their implications for 'emic' conceptualisations of health and empowerment. Key findings pointed to young people's preference for more positive understandings of young people and their health. Participants described how dominant perceptions of young people as 'immature' and 'risky' negatively impacted on their health; shaping subsequent possibilities for, and limitations of, their empowerment. Based on study findings and informed by Steven Lukes' (2005) tripartite perspective on power, the thesis offers a new conceptual framework for understanding the concept of empowerment and its relationship to young people's health.

This thesis explores the ecological design of schoolyard environments. It employs a systems approach, and considers energy, hydrologic, biotic, and social systems and their interrelation. The question of how to integrate experiential learning with the school landscape is also examined, as the concept of empowerment through experience in the landscape is a strong component of this project. With insights gained from an extensive literature review, the author tests the design position through the design explorations of a single schoolyard. The design process, described herein, illustrates the potential for ecological schoolyard design.
Master of Landscape Architecture

Genom studien har jag kommit fram till att det nära samarbete som klient och personligt ombud har, gör att informanterna upplever sin situation med personligt ombud bra. Det innebär att informanterna upplever sin vardag bättre, sedan de fick tillgång till personligt ombud. Informanterna har genom personligt ombud fått ökad kontroll över sitt liv, eftersom de upplever att de har bättre förutsättningar vid myndighetskontakter när deras personliga ombud hjälper dem med detta. Det positiva bemötandet från de personliga ombuden är A och O, klienterna känner sig både sedda och förstådda. Även då mina informanter och de personliga ombuden har olika åsikter, kan de resonera. Informanterna i min studie upplever att där blir en dialog, att de personliga ombuden lyssnar på dem. Stödet från de personliga ombuden gör att medverkan för informanterna underlättas vid myndighetskontakter, dels för att de får konkret hjälp. Men också för informanterna upplever att närvaron av de personliga ombuden gör att myndighetskontakter blir positivare. Det positiva bemötandet informanterna får från sina personliga ombud är viktigt, de upplever att de blir respekterade. Informanterna upplever att deras livssituation blivit bättre, eftersom de har fått hjälp med att reda ut sin svåra ekonomiska situation. De upplevde att deras personliga ombud varit och är, ett stöd för dem. Men särskilt i början av kontakten, när informanterna själva ansåg att de inte hade förmågan att klara vardagen. De upplever att stödet från de personliga ombuden, har gett dem bättre självförtroende som gjort att de blivit socialt aktivare.Payne (2002) menar att empowerment har blivit ett allt viktigare synsätt när det gäller social utveckling, men också att det finns en stor fara i detta arbetssätt. När man flyttar över makten från omgivningen kan klienten bli utan stödåtgärder, om klienten inte har uppnått tillräcklig förmåga själv att hantera ansvaret som det innebär. Men utifrån intervjuerna så har klienten inte blivit utan stödåtgärder, utan snarare att deras personliga ombud finns kvar. Men i mindre utsträckning än i början av deras kontakt, eftersom behovet av hjälp inte är lika stort nu. Jag upplevde att klienterna kände en trygghet, de vet att deras personliga ombud finns kvar som ”back upp”. Denna vetskap gör att klienterna vågar agera på egen hand. Dels för att klienterna har blivit självständigare, för att deras självförtroende har växt. Men också för att deras sociala kompetens har ökat. Dessutom tog de personliga ombuden i inledningsskedet av kontakten tag i det som var akut, som skuldsanering, bostadsbidrag etc. Detta har gjort att de praktiska problemen blivit mindre eller att de inte finns längre, men också att klienterna faktiskt i den nära kontakten med sina personliga ombud till viss del har lärt sig hur de själva ska agerar.De främsta framgångsfaktorerna för klienterna som jag upplever det, är bemötande från de personliga ombuden. Bemötandet var centralt i alla intervjuerna, och viktigt för klienterna. Klienterna upplevde att deras personliga ombud var hjälpsamma, snälla, lyssnade, var trevliga och förstående. Detta tolkade jag som en avgörande betydelse för klienterna skulle orka gå in i en empowerments-process. Enligt Boman & Jönsson (2006) måste vi utgå från att alla är olika snarare än att alla än lika. Där ett bra bemötande ofta handlar om vilka föreställningar om funktionshinder som finns hos personer utan funktionshinder, där våra attityder påverkar våra handlingar. Det är inte ovanligt att funktionshindret överskuggar allt och ger full identitet och föreställningar om svaghet och oförmåga vilket får förödande konsekvenser för den enskilde individen som inte följer normen eller kan ta för sig i samhället. Dessa konsekvenser begränsar de personliga ombuden genom att de möter klienterna med förståelse och tid, de möts som två individer.Genom intervjuerna har också träffpunkten nämnt som betydelsefull för mina fem informanter, detta tolkar jag också som den har en enorm betydelse för informanterna. Träffpunkten står för den dagliga sociala kontakten, för de flesta av informanterna. Detta gör att de får en möjlighet till återhämtning, där deras arbete och samarbete med handledare gör att de får kraft att själv kunna vara mer aktiva i det som rör deras vardag och liv. Däremot är informanterna snarare i en återhämtningsprocess, en process som kan leda till empowerment. Syftet med empowerment är att hjälpa klienten att få makt över beslut och handlingar som rör deras eget liv. Detta kan uppnås genom att stärka klientens förmåga att utöva denna makt och att flytta över makt från omgivningen till klienterna, där personligt ombud skall argumentera för klienternas åsikter och behov, men också att åstadkomma social förändring. Till viss del har klienterna fått makt över beslut och handlingar som rör deras eget liv, men fortfarande är där långt kvar för klienterna innan de uppnått empowerment som det definieras i litteraturen. Men utifrån klienternas perspektiv upplever de empowerment, eftersom stödet från de personliga ombuden har gjort att de fått bättre livsvillkor.Enligt Nilsson & Malm (2002) är arbetssättet case management och funktion inte kopplad till någon specifik yrkesgrupp och kan på vissa ställen också innehas av icke professionella. Enligt Personligt ombud (2006) är rekrytering av personligt ombud den avgörande förutsättningen för en framgångsrik verksamhet. Under intervjuerna framkom inte vad för utbildning informanternas personliga ombud hade, däremot att informanterna var nöjda med sina personliga ombud. De pratade varmt om sina personlige ombud, och bemötandet var centralt i intervjuerna. Informanterna menade att även om de inte alltid hade samma inställning, så hade de en dialog. Jag fick uppfattningen utifrån intervjuerna att de personliga ombuden var professionella i sitt bemötande, vilket kan beror på rekryteringen. De som söker tjänsten har ett stort intresse för att arbeta med personer med psykiska funktionshinder, och vet att service, vård och stöd ska vara anpassade efter individens förutsättningar. Detta kan jag koppla till Blomdahl Frej (1998) socialpedagogiska förhållningssätt, där det främsta arbetsredskapet är relationen. Där man ser och bemöter varandra som personer och utgår från klientens förmågor. Holm (2001) menar att alla möten med en hjälpsökande är betydelsefulla, det innebär att det ställs höga krav på den professionelle hjälparens förmåga att hantera dessa möten. Motparten skall känna sig sedd, bekräftad och förstådd. Syftet med empati inom ramen för ett professionellt förhållningssätt är att ge vägledning i bemötandet och hjälpen åt de hjälpsökande. Utifrån intervjuerna får jag uppfattningen att de personliga ombuden har detta professionella förhållningssätt i mötet med klienterna, en empatisk förmåga som bidrar till återhämtning.Utifrån intervjuerna kan jag använda begreppet återhämtning, för att informanterna har börjat skaffa sig makt över sitt liv. De har börjat vara aktivare både i det sociala livet, och vid myndighetskontakter. Empowerment för att de fortfarande är i behov av hjälp och stöd från sina personliga ombud, men bara till viss del. Men trots allt ringde de fortfarande till sina personliga ombud, särskilt då när det gällde myndighetskontakter Enligt Hansson (2005) används empowerment för att understryka behovet av att stärka situationen för psykiskt funktionshindrade. Klienterna upplevde att de fått självförtroende, och blivit socialt aktivare. Kontakten med deras personliga ombud var mindre kontinuerligt nu, men de tyckte det var en trygghet att deras personliga ombud fanns till hands. Klienterna ringde när de behövde hjälp eller stöd, och när inte klienterna hört av sig på ett tag ringde deras personliga ombud till dem. Klienterna träffade sina personliga ombud 1-2 gånger/vecka nu, de ansåg att det största behovet av stöd och hjälp var i början av kontakten. Eftersom de personliga ombuden då behövda reda ut klienternas ekonomiska situation, som var mycket besvärlig.Enligt Psykiatrisamordning (nr 5, 2006) är ekonomin en aspekt som det sällan talas om, men ekonomisk misär är ett stort hinder för återhämtningen Detta framkom också genom intervjuerna hur lättade och glada klienterna var, över att de fått hjälp med att reda ut sin ekonomiska situation. Printz (2004) menar att en stor del av de psykiskt funktionshindrade på grund av sin sjukdom inte har förmågan att framföra vad de är i behov av. Författaren menar vidare att psykiskt funktionshindrade kan ha olika svårigheter i den vardagliga livsföringen som exempelvis handlingsförlamning. Detta framkom tydligt genom intervjuerna, där informanterna hade svårigheter att ta hand om sin ekonomi. De hade också svårt att veta vad de kunde få hjälp med, t ex. tandvårdskort eftersom medicinerna påverkat åtminstone två av informanternas tänder negativt.Agrell (2002) menar att hur stort det psykiska handikappet blir, är beror på vilket bemötande och stödinsatser den psykiskt funktionshindrade personen får. Stödet från de personliga ombuden och mötesplatsen minskade det psykiska funktionshindret för klienterna, eftersom både arbetsförhållande och bemötande gjorde att de kunde hantera sin situation. Payne (2002) menar att i ett personligt inriktat arbete använder man sig av klienternas färdigheter och styrka i syfte att förbättra deras kompetens genom hjälp till självhjälp. Det framgår tydligt genom mina intervjuer att både träffpunkten och de personliga ombuden fokuserar på det klienterna är bra på, vilket stärker dem. De har levt många år i skuggan av sin sjukdom, detta har gjort att de tappat tron på sig själv. Nu får de uppmuntran och stöd, att plocka fram de färdigheter som de har. Detta ger hjälp till självhjälp, klienterna är kanske inte symptomfria, men de har blivit starkare. Genom stödet från de personliga ombuden och arbetet på träffpunkten, har de utvecklat en annan roll än bara patient/klient. Detta kan jag tolka som att de personliga ombuden och träffpunkten har en avgörande betydelse, om klienten skall få kontroll över sitt liv och uppnå empowerment.
Kronkvist, M. Klient, personligt ombud och empowerment - ur ett klientperspektiv. Client, case manager and empowerment - out of client perspective. Examensarbete i socialt arbete 10 poäng. Malmö högskola: Hälsa och Samhälle, enheten för socialt arbete, 2007.Undersökningen bygger på en empiriskt kvalitativ studie med en utforskande ansats, utifrån ett klientperspektiv. Ett övergripande syfte är att undersöka om personligt ombud kan bidra till att klienterna får ökat självförtroende och kontroll över sitt liv dvs. empowerment. Framförallt vill jag studera hur klienterna själva upplever det att ha ett personligt ombud. Mitt syfte är även att belysa klienternas upplevelser och erfarenheter av personligt ombud, utifrån ett klientperspektiv.Undersökningen visar att klienterna är mycket nöjda, och att de har ett stort förtroende för sina personliga ombud. Klienterna upplever att det är ett stöd och en trygghet att ha ett personligt ombud, särskilt vid myndighetskontakter. Klienterna framhåller det positiva bemötandet, stödet vid myndighetskontakter, och att de personliga ombuden är flexibla som viktigt. Dessa faktorer indikerar om att det främjar klienternas autonomi och oberoende, men också att stödet besparar klienterna frustration som annars skulle ha försämrat deras hälsotillstånd. Undersökningen visar genom klientintervjuerna, att det positiva bemötandet gör att klienterna successivt utvecklar ett självförtroende som främjar deras självständighet.Undersökningen visar också att deras träffpunkt fyllde en mycket viktig funktion för den dagliga sociala kontakten, där har de ett arbete, vänner och handledare som de kan prata och omgås med.

To provide guidance to evaluators and stakeholders, evaluation scholars (i.e., those conducting research on program evaluation) have conducted numerous studies on the feasibility and effectiveness of using participatory and collaborative evaluation approaches in various contexts. While some participatory and collaborative evaluation approaches may involve youth in the evaluation of programs and interventions, few evaluations in this area have been formally documented and/or widely published. As a result, there remains a dearth of empirical research on participatory and collaborative evaluations involving youth. One such collaborative evaluation approach, empowerment evaluation (EE), appears to be well suited for engaging youth in program evaluation, as participants are co-evaluators. Using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, EE aims to teach program stakeholders, including beneficiaries, how to conduct their own evaluations. In this two-part mixed methods research project I sought to investigate and formally document: (a) the use of EE for programs targeting youth; and/or (b) the involvement of youth in EE of such programs. By investigating and documenting these areas, this study builds on the very limited body of empirical research on EE. As such, it provides important information to evaluators who are embarking on evaluations of programs targeting youth, so that they can make informed decisions about the use of EE and the involvement of youth in their evaluation activities. To address these goals, this study used a mixed methods case study approach and included two parts and multiple phases. Part 1 Phase 1 involved a survey of evaluators associated with particular Targeted Interest Groups (TIGs) of the American Evaluation Association (AEA) who are involved in evaluating programs that target youth. It determined the extent to which: (a) evaluators report using EE to evaluate youth programs; and (b) how evaluators report involving youth in EE of youth programs. Part 1 Phase 2 involved interviews with a select group of these evaluators and explored what factor(s) facilitate and hinder: (a) the use of EE to evaluate programs involving youth; and (b) the involvement of youth in EE of programs targeting youth. Part 2 then used observations from an EE with youth of their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focused educational outreach program to explore: (a) what an EE of a youth program might look like in practice; (b) how youth can be involved in an EE. Youth also took part in follow-up interviews to allow an examination of: (c) the strengths and limitations of using an EE to evaluate a program targeting youth; and (d) the strengths and limitations of involving youth in an EE of a program targeting youth. Overall, the findings show that the use of EE to evaluate programs involving youth may be limited, however, there are factors that can facilitate and hinder the use of EE and the involvement of youth in EE. The findings also demonstrate that an EE can be carried out in practice with youth acting as co-evaluators and that through EE youth may experience both positive and negative outcomes of using EE and of being involved in EE. In light of these findings, ways to improve the involvement of youth in the evaluation of programs that target youth using EE are discussed.

In the autumn of 2020, I was an intern at Fontänhuset Sköndal and there my curiosity was aroused to know more about the organization and the people in it. The purpose of my thesis was to investigate whether Fountain houses members' mental health has improved since they started participating in the activities, I wanted to investigate whether empowerment was the reason for the members possibly improved mental health. In this study, I interviewed four members and three employees / supervisors. My assumption that the well-being of the members of Fountain houses was positively affected was to some extent correct. All stated that they felt better since they started at Fontain Houses, but still they continued to medicate and have contact with the traditional psychiatric care. That empowerment in the form of joint work, participation, co-determination and autonomy was crucial in their perception of their mental health. Due to the current corona pandemic, the Fountain houses cannot be open as usual and members cannot participate in all the daily tasks.Hopefully the restrictions will soon end so that members can return to a structured existence with routines, join tasks and social company.Structure and routines are important for people with mental illness. The importance of Fountain houses is becoming more significant as mental illness spreads in the country. It is gratifying that several members are actively involved in establishing more Fountain houses in Sweden.
Hösten 2020 var jag praktikant på Fontänhuset Sköndal och där väcktes min nyfikenhet att veta mer om organisationen och människorna i den. Syftet med min uppsats var att undersöka om Fontänhusens medlemmars psykiska hälsa förbättrats sedan de började delta i verksamheten. Jag ville undersöka om empowerment var anledningen till medlemmarnas eventuellt förbättrade psykiska hälsa. I denna studie har jag intervjuat fyra medlemmar och tre anställda/handledare. Mitt antagande att Fontänhusens medlemmars mående påverkades positivt stämde till viss del. Samtliga uppgav att de mådde bättre sedan de började på Fontänhusen men likväl fortsatte de medicinera och ha kontakt med den traditionella psykiatriska vården. Att empowerment i form av gemensamt arbete, delaktighet, medbestämmande, egenmakt hade avgörande betydelse i deras uppfattning om sitt psykiska hälsotillstånd.  På grund av den rådande coronapandemin kan inte Fontänhusen ha öppet som vanligt och många av husens normala, dagliga arbetsuppgifter kan inte alla medlemmar delta i. Förhoppningen är att begränsningarna snarast upphör så att medlemmarna kan återgå till en strukturerad tillvaro med rutiner, gemensamma arbetsuppgifter och social samvaro. Struktur och rutiner är viktigt för människor med psykisk ohälsa. Fontänhusens betydelse får ökad aktualitet i och med att den psykiska ohälsan breder ut sig i landet. Det är glädjande att flera medlemmar aktivt engagerar sig för att fler Fontänhus ska etableras i Sverige.

På dagens marknad måste företagen kunna möta både de yttre och inre kraven som ställs på marknaden för att maximera sin avkastning. Ett företag som i allra högsta grad står inför förändrade yttre krav är Posten. Hur kan Posten kombinera yttre krav och omständigheter från kunder, marknadsförhållanden och ägarnas vinstintresse med de inre kraven, det vill säga en tillfredställd personal? Hur kan man skapa en bra företagskultur som gynnar både ägarna och de anställda? En teori som hävdar att det går att möta de yttre kraven samtidigt som de inre kraven uppfylls benämns: empowerment. Syftet med denna uppsats är att utifrån ett empowermentperspektiv analysera hur några lokala chefer på Posten jobbar med sin personalpolitik rent praktiskt. Empowermentbegreppet operationaliserades till att gälla tre nycklar angående ”information”, ”gränser/riktlinjer” och ”självgående lag”. Utifrån dessa områden intervjuades produktionschefer på fem lokala brevbärarkontor om Postens personalpolitik. Forskningsstrategin som användes har en kvalitativ inriktning. Undersökningsdesignen bestod av en fallstudie. Forskningsansatsen är deduktiv i förhållandet mellan teori och empiri. Syftet är dock inte att bekräfta eller falsifiera en hypotes utan istället söka en ökad förståelse för hur empowerment som begrepp tar sig uttryck i Postens personalpolitik.   Slutsatserna för dessa fem postkontor visade bland annat att Posten har påbörjat detta förändringsarbete för att anpassas till de yttre kraven, men har en del kvar att jobba med i de inre kraven. Framtidens brevbärare behöver utvecklas framförallt i sitt arbetssätt. Det nya processtänket förutsätter att man behärskar flera moment. Posten har möjligtvis en viss strukturell empowerment, då deras nya arbetssätt är tänkt att ge medarbetarna större ansvar och mer handlingsutrymme så de kan agera mer självgående. Det finns dock brister i det psykologiska empowerment. Alla nycklar är ett måste för att uppnå empowerment. Nyckel 3 är inte uppfylld på grund av att brevbärarna inte förstått sin roll (nyckel 2) tillfullo. De kan dock komma att förstå sin roll om denna tydliggörs med riktig och nyttig information (nyckel 1).

Syftet med studien är att se om det skolkurativa arbetet influeras av empowerment, det vill säga, om skolkuratorerna arbetar utifrån att stärka elevernas egen kapacitet. För att finna svar har fyra skolkuratorer från två olika kommuner, som är verksamma från grundskola till gymnasienivå intervjuas. Tolkningsramen för analysen av det empiriska materialet utformades efter Adams tre dimensioner för empowermentbaserat socialt arbete. Resultaten visade på att skolkuratorerna hade kännedom om empowerment begreppet och även insikt i vad ett empowerment inriktat arbete bidrar till. Det framkom även att samtliga skolkuratorers arbetssätt innehöll drag av empowerment även om det inte var den uttalade arbetsmetoden och utförandet skilde sig. Studiens slutsats är således att det skolkurativa arbetet uttryckligen inte följer empowerment teori men att det återfinns i arbetssättet. Studien indikerar på att ett behov av vidare forskning kring empowermentbaserade arbetsmetoder och dess applicering inom det skolkurativa arbetet.
The purpose of the study is to see if the school counselors work is influenced by empowerment, that is, if the school counselors aim to strengthen the students' own capacity. Four school counselors from two different municipalities who work from elementary school through high school have been interviewed. The interpretation framework for the analysis of the empirical material was designed according to Adam's three dimensions for empowerment-based social work. The results showed that the school counselors were aware of the empowerment concept and had insight into what empowerment-oriented work contributes to. It also emerged that the work methods of all school counselors contained features of empowerment even though it was not the stated working method and the performance differed. The study concludes that the school counselors work does not explicitly follow empowerment theory but that it is found in the working method. The study indicates a need for further research on empowerment-based working methods and its application in school counseling.

Pretende-se com esta dissertação contribuir para a caracterização da liderança empoderadora e o empoderamento psicológico no contexto profissional português. Tem três objetivos: Verificar se existe associação entre o empoderamento da liderança e o desempenho profissional; se o empoderamento psicológico tem um efeito moderador / mediador nesta relação; qual é a relação entre as dimensões de empoderamento da liderança e as dimensões de empoderamento psicológico. Dois instrumentos foram aplicados a uma amostra de 113 trabalhadores portugueses: o Empowering Leadership Questionaire e o Psychological Empowerment Instrument. Estatística descritiva, regressão linear e análises de correlação de Pearson foram utilizadas para alcançar os objetivos formulados. Os resultados revelaram que, para a amostra, não há evidências de que as dimensões Empowering Leadership estejam associadas positivamente ao desempenho individual. No entanto, os resultados corroboram a associação entre as dimensões Empoderamento Psicológico e Liderança Empoderadora, relação que ainda não tinha sido estudada no contexto profissional português; Abstract: Work Empowerment - A quantitative study of the leadership and psychological empowerment impact in job performance This dissertation intends to contribute to the characterization of empowering leadership and psychological empowerment in the portuguese work context. Its aim is three fold: to verify if there is an association between empowering leadership and professional performance; if the psychological empowerment has a moderating/mediating effect in this relationship; what is the relationship between the empowering leadership dimensions and the psychological empowerment dimensions. Two instruments were applied to a sample of 113 Portuguese workers: the Empowering Leadership Questionaire and the Psychological Empowerment Instrument. Descriptive statistics, linear regression and Pearson correlation analyzes were used to meet the formulated objectives. The results revealed that, for the sample, there is no empirical evidence that the dimensions of Empowering Leadership are positively associated with individual performance. However, the results corroborate the association between the dimensions of Psychological Empowerment and Empowering Leadership, a relationship that had not yet been studied in the Portuguese professional context.