Purpose

This paper aims to gain insight into managers' perspectives on the concept and practice of workers' participation in management (WPM) in Indian organizations. WPM is a critical ingredient in organizational effectiveness. However, the most fundamental aspects of WPM, such as the attitudes, expectations of managers and the factors facilitating or hindering the participation process, are less explored. This paper attempts to answer those questions concerning WPM in the context of Indian organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data from 138 managers of Indian public and private sector organizations. Data were collected through an online survey as well as through semi-structured interviews. The study explores potential benefits, roadblocks and supporters from the managers' perspective. Further, to test the hypothesis, the author used multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The paper demonstrates managers' perception of workers' participation at the board level as the most beneficial and supportive compared to joint consultation and joint decision-making; however, at the same time, it is the one having the most roadblocks in the present Indian Labour laws. Workers, unions and managers' lack of legislative support and intention fuel the fire. The study also found that implementation of WPM is primarily based on statutory norms, and public sector managers are more willing to take the workers on board than managers of private sector organizations.

Practical implications

This research is of practical significance as it extracts new visions for policymakers in India already planning to implement four new labor codes, namely, wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety, health and working conditions. The data from the study will facilitate the Indian labor ministry to lay down policy decisions concerning WPM. Further, the government can acclimatize this analysis to plug the ambiguities in the present WPM system.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to give insights into the manager's perspective regarding the WPM using a scenario-based approach. In addition, this paper offers valuable suggestions for policymakers to restructure and streamline the country's existing and overlapping labor laws.

中文翻译：

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管理者对员工参与管理的看法：印度组织的情景研究

目的

本文旨在深入了解管理者对印度组织中员工参与管理（WPM）概念和实践的看法。WPM 是组织有效性的关键因素。然而，WPM 最基本的方面，例如管理者的态度、期望以及促进或阻碍参与过程的因素，却很少被探讨。本文试图在印度组织的背景下回答有关 WPM 的问题。

设计/方法论/途径

该研究使用了印度公共和私营部门组织 138 名管理者的数据。数据是通过在线调查和半结构化访谈收集的。该研究从管理者的角度探讨了潜在的好处、障碍和支持者。此外，为了检验假设，作者使用了多元回归分析。

发现

本文表明，管理者认为，与联合协商和联合决策相比，工人在董事会层面的参与是最有益和最有支持性的；然而，与此同时，它也是印度现行劳动法中障碍最多的一项。工人、工会和管理者缺乏立法支持和意愿，火上浇油。研究还发现，WPM的实施主要基于法定规范，公共部门的管理者比私营部门组织的管理者更愿意接纳工人。

实际影响

这项研究具有现实意义，为印度已经计划实施四项新劳动法典（即工资、劳资关系、社会保障和职业安全、健康和工作条件）的政策制定者提供了新的愿景。该研究的数据将有助于印度劳动部制定有关 WPM 的政策决定。此外，政府可以使这种分析适应环境，以消除当前 WPM 系统中的模糊性。

原创性/价值

据作者所知，这是第一项使用基于场景的方法深入了解经理对 WPM 的看法的研究。此外，本文还为政策制定者重组和精简该国现有的和重叠的劳动法提供了宝贵的建议。