Liberated firm, a leverage of well-being and technological change? A prospective study based on the scenario method

Abstract

In this article, we use qualitative research with 34 assistant managers to explore the benefits of a ‘liberated firm’. Drawing on the emergence of this New Form of Work Organization (NFWO) over the last few years in France, preliminary in depth interviews conducted within two liberated firms support the assumption that there is a positive impact of this NFWO on well-being and technological change. In our attempt to confront these success stories with the representation of assistant managers working in ‘non-liberated’ firms, our prospective research uses the scenario method to deepen this assumption. The participants were requested to project themselves in the scenario of a potential liberation management of their company, and to share their critical vision of the perceived positive impacts on well-being and technological change. We derive theoretical propositions and a fourfold typology from our data. Results show that liberation management can enhance well-being and can be conducive to creativity and technological change at work, under favorable conditions. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.