Provide a peer response to your classmate, Aaron's discussion post below.

"Hello class,

What does the research indicate regarding the relationship between employee empowerment and performance?

Research has overwhelmingly supported the idea that empowering employees improves their performance within the workplace. The research began in the 1980's when private companies began to develop employee empowerment programs to help increase profitability, improve customer satisfaction, and encourage innovation. The Rainey textbook highlights numerous studies which reinforced the theory that using employee empowerment in the private sector as a leadership or management strategy has improved performance, job satisfaction, promotes creativity and innovation, increases organizational commitment. Within the public sector as well, studies have shown that employee empowerment is a positive management strategy. Studies specifically focused on these programs within the public sector show that is relates to positive performance and that it has trickle down effects. By this, managers are more likely to empower their subordinates when their own managers empower them. In doing so, it also encourages employees to provide more honest feedback regarding work practices, which in turn improve performance and productivity. (Rainey et al., 2021).

In what ways do effects depend on the position of the employee?

The Rainey text cites Kanter as saying that middle managers have little power and therefore cannot perform effectively, despite being empowered. In order for them to perform better, and to give them the opportunity to reward and empower their own subordinates, they must be given more resources and support. There has to be a sharing of power to make this strategy of empowerment more effective within the workplace. Bowen and Lawler stated that employee empowerment must be seen as a service delivery in that it provides these lower level employees with information about goals, rewards their performance, helps them acquire skills and knowledge to improve their work, and empowers them to make decisions (Rainey et al., 2021).

Provide in-text citations and references in an APA format.

Reference:

Rainey, H. G., Fernandez, S., & Malatesta, D. (2021). Understanding and managing public organizations. John Wiley & Sons."