Empowering Society Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Part I The Setting
- Part II Nature of Empowerment in Three Different Organisational Systems
- Part III Towards a Framework for Empowerment
- 7 Strand 1: Process Orientation
- 8 Strand 2: Bases of Power
- 9 Strand 3: Organising and Organisation
- 10 Strand 4: Mainstreaming
- 11 Strand 5: Representative Organisations
- 12 Empowering Society
- Appendix I Cross-section of Views on Empowerment from Practitioners and Academics
- Appendix II Perceptions of Empowerment
- Appendix III Case Studies
- Case Study 1
- Case Study 2
- Case Study 3
- Case Study 4
- Case Study 5
- Select Bibliography
- Index
7 - Strand 1: Process Orientation
from Part III - Towards a Framework for Empowerment
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Part I The Setting
- Part II Nature of Empowerment in Three Different Organisational Systems
- Part III Towards a Framework for Empowerment
- 7 Strand 1: Process Orientation
- 8 Strand 2: Bases of Power
- 9 Strand 3: Organising and Organisation
- 10 Strand 4: Mainstreaming
- 11 Strand 5: Representative Organisations
- 12 Empowering Society
- Appendix I Cross-section of Views on Empowerment from Practitioners and Academics
- Appendix II Perceptions of Empowerment
- Appendix III Case Studies
- Case Study 1
- Case Study 2
- Case Study 3
- Case Study 4
- Case Study 5
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
In this chapter, the meaning of ‘process’ and its application in different types of organisations is elaborated to highlight its criticality to empowerment. The term ‘process’ is used extensively in business organisations as well as in social development organisations but with different connotations and end results. A common connotation of this term across different types of organisations adds rigour to its application.
What is a Process?
According to the dictionary, the term ‘process’ denotes ‘a series of continuous actions that bring about a particular result, end or condition’. However, its specific meaning varies according to the context. In systems theory, for instance, ‘the process element consists of technical and administrative activities which are brought to bear on inputs in order to transform them into outputs’. (Gibson et al, 1973). In the business context the term is described in a variety of ways as the following statements, drawn from a cross-section of sources, indicate:
A business ‘process is a series of steps designed to produce a product or service. Some processes (such as the programming process) may be contained wholly within a function. However, most processes (such as order processing) are cross-functional, spanning the white space between the boxes on the organisation chart’. ‘Between every input and every output is a process’.
(Hunt, 1996).‘A process is a sequence of steps which adds value by producing required outputs from a variety of inputs’.
(CIIEXIM Award for Business Excellence – Guidelines, 1998).‘Process refers to linked activities with the purpose of producing a product or service for a customer (user) within or outside the organisation’.
(Tata Business Excellence Model – Criteria for 2001).- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Empowering SocietyAn Analysis of Business, Goverment and Social Development Approaches to Empowerment, pp. 105 - 114Publisher: Foundation BooksPrint publication year: 2006