Experiences Of Empowerment Research Articles

Between Feminist Solidarity and “Bible-Verse-Throwers”: Catholic Feminist Activists on Social Media and Experiences of Agency

Abstract Focusing on German-speaking progressive Catholic women, the present study aims at investigating religious women’s feminist activism on social media in relation to questions of agency. It does so by focusing on women’s own experiences of approval and empowerment on the one hand and criticism and disempowerment on the other, attending to the possible role of specific social media platforms’ affordances in this context. Taking an actor-centered approach, this article draws on in-depth interviews that are analyzed through a cgt-framework. Attention is paid to how different social media ‘bubbles’ and platform-specific affordances and vernaculars impact the responses the women receive and their possibilities of reacting thereto as their content moves between different platforms beyond their control. The results are discussed against the background of theories of agency in the context of gender, religion, and digital media, arguing for an understanding of agency as relational, situated, and dispersed.

Abstract B066: Empowering Black and Latine breast/ovarian cancer survivors with lower quality of life through community-based patient navigation programs

Abstract Community-based organizations (CBOs) offer essential health information and support through programming directed toward women at-risk for and surviving with breast/ovarian cancer. This includes services delivered to women of color–who are more likely to have unmet medical and psychosocial needs, and high social determinants of health burdens. Yet, little is known about the effectiveness of CBO’s programs and services on these women’s levels of empowerment (e.g., their perceived control, self-efficacy, knowledge/skills, and coping with cancer risk, treatment, and survivorship) that could impact the outcomes of their cancer care. To study this, we conducted a secondary data analysis among N=124 breast/ovarian cancer survivors identifying as Black and/or Latine participating in CBO-led cancer control activities, and assessed their care satisfaction, quality of life, patient navigation, and empowerment. Patient empowerment was high: most women of color (M age=50, 54% Black, 48% Latine) felt more informed (75%) and confident (75%) in managing their care following program engagement. Care quality was also very high (87%), and perceived as: recommendable to others (94%), helpful (91%), informative (92%), timely (90%), reliable (91%), supportive (91%), and effective (91%). Regarding care satisfaction, these underrepresented women felt supported by abundant resources (93%) and programs (95%), understood (93%), and helped (91%) by the CBOs programs. Regarding quality of life, 69% were in fair/poor health and 24% endorsed frequent mental distress–with an average of 9.1 physically unhealthy days, 9.4 mentally unhealthy days, and 7.8 activity-limited days in the past month. Disparities in empowerment were observed as a function of survivors’ navigation experiences and physical/mental well-being, as empowerment was highest among those who benefited more from patient navigation (r=.58, p<.001), and had poorer quality of life (r=-.44, p<.001). In a multivariable model controlling for satisfaction with CBO-led cancer control, both patient navigation (B=.81, SE=.13, p<.001) and quality of life (B=-.18, SE=.07, p<.005) were associated with survivors’ experience of empowerment: those who rated their patient navigation experience more highly, and those who were more impaired, felt most empowered. Community cancer control empowers Black and Latine breast/ovarian cancer survivors: addressing disparities, through programs such as patient navigation, could enhance their effectiveness, and particularly for those with lower quality of life. Behavioral and Social Science: Socioeconomic Influences Citation Format: Marcelo Sleiman Jr, Dheeraj Oruganty, Adina Fleischmann, Mingqian Liu, Sahana Arumani, Kenneth Tercyak. Empowering Black and Latine breast/ovarian cancer survivors with lower quality of life through community-based patient navigation programs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B066.

Abstract B066: Empowering Black and Latine breast/ovarian cancer survivors with lower quality of life through community-based patient navigation programs

Abstract Community-based organizations (CBOs) offer essential health information and support through programming directed toward women at-risk for and surviving with breast/ovarian cancer. This includes services delivered to women of color–who are more likely to have unmet medical and psychosocial needs, and high social determinants of health burdens. Yet, little is known about the effectiveness of CBO’s programs and services on these women’s levels of empowerment (e.g., their perceived control, self-efficacy, knowledge/skills, and coping with cancer risk, treatment, and survivorship) that could impact the outcomes of their cancer care. To study this, we conducted a secondary data analysis among N=124 breast/ovarian cancer survivors identifying as Black and/or Latine participating in CBO-led cancer control activities, and assessed their care satisfaction, quality of life, patient navigation, and empowerment. Patient empowerment was high: most women of color (M age=50, 54% Black, 48% Latine) felt more informed (75%) and confident (75%) in managing their care following program engagement. Care quality was also very high (87%), and perceived as: recommendable to others (94%), helpful (91%), informative (92%), timely (90%), reliable (91%), supportive (91%), and effective (91%). Regarding care satisfaction, these underrepresented women felt supported by abundant resources (93%) and programs (95%), understood (93%), and helped (91%) by the CBOs programs. Regarding quality of life, 69% were in fair/poor health and 24% endorsed frequent mental distress–with an average of 9.1 physically unhealthy days, 9.4 mentally unhealthy days, and 7.8 activity-limited days in the past month. Disparities in empowerment were observed as a function of survivors’ navigation experiences and physical/mental well-being, as empowerment was highest among those who benefited more from patient navigation (r=.58, p<.001), and had poorer quality of life (r=-.44, p<.001). In a multivariable model controlling for satisfaction with CBO-led cancer control, both patient navigation (B=.81, SE=.13, p<.001) and quality of life (B=-.18, SE=.07, p<.005) were associated with survivors’ experience of empowerment: those who rated their patient navigation experience more highly, and those who were more impaired, felt most empowered. Community cancer control empowers Black and Latine breast/ovarian cancer survivors: addressing disparities, through programs such as patient navigation, could enhance their effectiveness, and particularly for those with lower quality of life. Behavioral and Social Science: Socioeconomic Influences Citation Format: Marcelo Sleiman Jr, Dheeraj Oruganty, Adina Fleischmann, Mingqian Liu, Sahana Arumani, Kenneth Tercyak. Empowering Black and Latine breast/ovarian cancer survivors with lower quality of life through community-based patient navigation programs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B066.

Intersectionality and Caregiving: The Exclusion Experience and Coping Resources of Immigrant Women Caring for a Family Member With Severe Mental Illness.

Intersectionality has become a central analytical framework in the study of exclusion and empowerment experiences among women from marginalized communities. However, the relevance of intersectionality to informal caregiving in mental healthcare has hardly been explored to date. The purpose of the current study is to examine the exclusion experiences and coping resources of immigrant women caring for a family member with a severe mental illness (SMI) through the lens of intersectionality theory. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 26 informal female immigrant caregivers from the former Soviet Union residing in Israel. The interviews were analyzed using a qualitative content approach. The findings revealed that the participants experienced stigma and exclusion in several intersecting categories: economic marginalization of immigrant single mothers, ethnic and gender-based stigma of Russian-speaking women, gender-based domestic violence, and mental health stigma by professionals. The participants' coping resources included spirituality and religious faith, support groups, and social activism. The study provides insights into the burdens and rewards experienced by female immigrant caregivers of family members with SMI through the lens of intersectionality theory. Implications for adapting services to the contextual characteristics of female immigrant caregivers and minimizing intersectional stigma and inequities in informal healthcare are discussed.

Parent Experiences of Empowerment: Understanding the Role of Parent Empowerment in Child Health Promotion.

Establishing healthy behaviors during a child's first 5years is essential for healthy growth. Parents are targeted as agents of change because they serve as primary models of behavior during this period. Although parent-focused interventions often target empowerment as a driver of change, our understanding of how parents experience the process of empowerment in the context of child health promotion remains limited. This qualitative study explored the process by which parents gain empowerment through participation in a health promotion intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 low-income parents who participated in Parents Connect for Healthy Living (PConnect), a 10-week empowerment-centered obesity prevention intervention. Data were analyzed using inductive-deductive thematic analysis and guided by empowerment theories. Most parents were Hispanic/Latino (41%) and female (97%). Five themes emerged that correspond to the process by which parents gained empowerment: (1) friendships formed and relationships strengthened during PConnect, (2) parents strengthened relationships with their children and believed in their ability to parent successfully, (3) the experience of knowledge led to behavior change, (4) parents used new resources to improve family health, and (5) parents took action. Empowerment theory should be a component of health promotion programs.

Exploring Shared Challenges of Empowered Patients and Entrepreneurs: Towards Diversity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in Post-Crisis Contexts

This practical study explores the shared challenges faced by individuals managing chronic health conditions and entrepreneurs within the context of post-crisis periods, focusing on diversity, innovation, and individual empowerment. The aim is to develop a theoretical framework elucidating the mechanisms behind these challenges and their implications for fostering diversity, social innovation, and sustainability. Methodologically, an integrative approach was employed, drawing upon insights from psychology, sociology, health management, and entrepreneurship literature to conduct a comprehensive analysis. The research utilized mixed methods, including scoping reviews and qualitative analysis of virtual communities, to uncover the dynamic mechanisms that drive empowerment. This approach not only validated the theoretical framework but also proposed practical strategies to harness diversity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in post-crisis contexts. Drawing upon Dubin’s methodology, the study structured the theoretical framework to highlight the interconnectedness of empowerment experiences within communities. The findings underscore the interconnectedness of empowerment experiences within communities and highlight the vital role of collaborative environments and support networks in promoting diversity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Ultimately, this research contributes to the development of strategies that capitalize on cultural diversities and reap the benefits of different nationalities, knowledge areas, and cultures, particularly in the aftermath of crises.

"Empowerment for Us by Us (E4UBU)": Developing a Model of Empowerment Using Feminist Participatory Methods with LBQT+ Persons Assigned Female at Birth in Western Kenya.

Lesbian, bisexual, queer, trans and other gender diverse persons assigned female at birth (heretofore referred to as "LBQT+ persons") in Western Kenya experience intersectional oppression and stigma. This stigma can manifest in acts of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and sexual and gender minority (SGM)-based violence, as well as various forms of discrimination-all of which have been linked to disproportionately higher levels of negative health outcomes for this group. Despite these challenges, many LBQT+ persons have been able to gain personal and collective power and thrive in this oppressive environment. The Empowerment for Us by Us (E4UBU) project is a mixed methods feminist participatory research study focused on exploring how LBQT+ persons conceptualize and define empowerment for themselves, and to understand their perspectives on how feelings of power and powerlessness influence their physical and mental health. This paper focuses on data from the first phase of the study, in which qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 40 LBQT+ persons (ages 19 to 50) from Kisumu and Homa Bay in Western Kenya. A participatory interpretive phenomenological analysis was conducted to understand the lived experiences of LBQT+ persons as they navigate intersectional oppression and its influence on their experiences of empowerment and subsequent health outcomes. Findings from this analysis were presented to two different focus groups composed of participants who had participated in the in-depth interviews to gather their insights on the interpretations of the interviews as a form of member checking. Findings revealed that "empowerment" was not experienced and viewed by LBQT+ persons as a monolithic construct, but rather a process through which LBQT+ persons are able to transform negative forces of intersectional oppression and powerlessness into experiences of power and subsequent individual and collective action and impact-all leading to improved mental health and well-being. This process is facilitated at several junctures by participatory seeking and attainment of community-appropriate resources at multiple socio-ecological levels that, when accessed with sufficient intensity, frequency, and duration, enhance one's journey through the process of empowerment. These facilitation junctures are viewed as likely points of focus for public health intervention. Analysis also revealed that the process of empowerment is dependent on the context within which the process is occurring, the specific issues being faced, and the population of focus. Recommendations for how this model can be used for future research and practice to improve the lives of LBQT+ persons in Kenya are discussed.

An In-Depth Exploration of the Empowerment Experiences and Their Impact on Personal Growth of Female Lecturers

Women in Pakistan face numerous challenges because of the rigid patriarchal structure. However, their economic self sufficiency gives them autonomy in different aspects of their life. This study aimed to investigate the empowerment experiences among female lecturers in colleges in the district of Bhakkar, Punjab. Twelve participants were sampled using a purposive sampling technique and were interviewed to share their experiences. The findings were analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. Under two main themes—empowerment experiences and their impact on personal growth—the findings revealed that female lecturers feel empowered in relation to domestic decision-making and control over their salary. However, most of them face limitations in their freedom of movement. Furthermore, their increased level of empowerment has led to improved self-worth and confidence. It is recommended that policymakers devise policies to integrate women into the economic sector to enhance their well-being as well as that of society as a whole.

Empowered but afraid: do Saudi women have the capability to freely decide their university majors?

This study used a capability approach to investigate Saudi women’s empowerment experiences and their capabilities in decision-making regarding choosing their university majors. Further, the study explored what capabilities women required to make decisions regarding their majors at university. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 26 women, comprising graduates, students, and faculty members. Results revealed that new legislation and regulations in Saudi Arabia have positively influenced sociocultural transformation. However, in small cities and nonurban settings, women may struggle to reject traditional social norms despite their empowerment. The findings indicate that encouraging students’ voluntary work and their membership in groups and organisations, as well as ensuring diverse hiring practices are in place in rural areas and small cities, could support a more general acceptance of women’s empowerment.

Cancer experience in metaphors: patients, carers, professionals, students – a scoping review

The use of metaphors to talk about cancer experiences has attracted much research and debate, especially in the case of military metaphors. However, questions remain about what metaphors are used...

Integrating gender in microfinance: Identifying strategies for women's empowerment across different institutional models

The issue of microfinance and women's empowerment has been intensely debated in the last two decades or more. Most of the debates have been about whether microfinance leads to empowerment in the context of specific programmes. Many impact studies focus on specific quantifiable indicators, whether economic or social. This paper moves beyond such debates to understand which strategies work to create empowerment and how. It looks at three institutional models of microfinance across the minimalist and credit plus spaces to identify gender specific and other strategies which enable experiences of empowerment for members of microfinance institutions. Instead of quantitative indicators or specific achievements, the paper explores dimensions and processes of empowerment such as solidarity, leadership and challenge to patriarchal ideology. Although the study is located in a certain district of West Bengal, a state in India, the observations and findings have relevance globally because similar institutional models and strategies are present across the world, especially in the Global South.

Psychological empowerment and exercising: The relationships between exercising, self‐stereotyping, agency, autonomy and physical self‐efficacy in non‐Western women

AbstractDespite recent efforts towards equality, there are still gender disparities in Middle Eastern societies, where women are often discouraged from viewing themselves as autonomous, competent and self‐determining individuals due to the internalization of traditional gender norms. Research on women's empowerment in multicultural and non‐Western societies is scarce. In the absence of other interventions, exercising has been effective in increasing women's psychological and physical strength. The present study focused on women (N = 250) living in a non‐Western and multicultural environment, aiming to assess whether (a) self‐stereotyping negatively correlates with factors of empowerment (operationalized as a sense of autonomy, agency and self‐efficacy) and exercising, (b) exercising is positively associated with factors of empowerment and (c) if exercising would mediate the hypothesized relationship of self‐stereotyping on empowerment. Secondly, the study also qualitatively explored the subjectively reported exercising motives and outcomes. The results of quantitative analyses confirmed that self‐stereotyping was negatively correlated with autonomy and agency, but not with physical self‐efficacy. Exercising was positively correlated with all the factors of empowerment and negatively with self‐stereotyping. The structural equation modelling supported the intermediary role of exercising in the associations between self‐stereotyping and autonomy and agency. The qualitative analysis revealed that although the participants principally exercised for health‐related motives, the reported outcome was primarily reflective of experiences of empowerment. The findings could be used to inform current policies and interventions geared towards women to support and promote their physical and psychological well‐being.

Empowerment of Lay Mental Health Workers and Junior Psychologists Online in a Task-Shared, Rural Setting in Kerala, India.

Patients with severe mental health issues who live in isolated rural areas are difficult to reach and treat. Providing effective treatment is difficult because mental health problems are complex and require specialized knowledge from a range of professionals. Task-sharing with lay mental health workers (LMHWs) has potential but requires proper training and supervision to be effective. This article reports on the challenges and facilitators experienced in empowering LMHWs in their role, with the help of a technology supported supervision group. The study sought to understand the functioning of the Empowering Supervisory Group (ESG) in the context of junior psychologists and LMHWs in rural India, and investigate how they experienced it by exploring challenges, lessons and empowerment. Qualitative analysis of interviews with the 22 ESG participants and their supervisors. A total of three discrete phases of supervision were identified where supervisors responded to the changing needs of the group. This began with building trust at a baseline level, tackling issues with competence and autonomy and finally experiencing meaning and impact through self-determination. The experience of empowerment even in an online setting was very beneficial given the challenges of working in rural areas. Empowerment based supervision of LMHWs and junior psychologists online enables a level of engagement that positions them to engage in community mental health practices with greater independence and confidence.

Emic definitions of empowerment for just development: learnings from Kenya

This mixed-methods study examines how men and women of different ages engaged in agriculture in Kilifi and Kiambu counties in Kenya define empowerment and describe empowerment pathways, and how empowered people are perceived by their families and communities. It also examines how emic understandings of empowerment—definitions which originate from within a given cultural context—compare to quantitative empowerment measures based on externally defined indicators from the Project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI). The study design used mixed methods, with qualitative data collected through focus group discussions, life histories, and community profiles, and quantitative data collected through the pro-WEAI survey tool. Although Pro-WEAI results indicated that women and men in the study communities have achieved gender parity and experience a similar level of empowerment, qualitative findings suggest that experiences of empowerment don’t necessarily fit with Index scores. Rather, conceptualizations of empowerment by people of different ages and genders are highly diverse. Participants of all genders suggested that women’s empowerment is more limited than men’s, as women who are not. Subordinate to men risk being rejected or stigmatized by their communities. Qualitative findings suggest that empowered men are seen as “desirable” by their communities, whereas empowered women are “openly admired” and “treated as a threat/feared” in equal turn. Furthermore, results revealed that the under-involvement of men in empowerment initiatives has contributed to feelings of resentment and neglect. These findings suggest that capturing and accounting for multiple and diverse emic definitions of empowerment for different social groups, which lies beyond the scope of standardized quantitative measures, is essential to measuring and supporting empowerment in ways that are valuable and recognizable to the target group(s) of a given development initiative. Finally, results show that to support the effective empowerment of women and men, there is a need to include men, integrate safeguards for backlash against empowered women, and transform norms that hinder the acceptance of empowered women by their families and communities.

Pushing the boundaries: How the actor training practices of Monika Pagneux and Philippe Gaulier may engender experiences of agency and empowerment in older theatre-makers

This article examines the role of actor training, based on the practices of Monika Pagneux and Philippe Gaulier, in the development of older people’s creativity, empowerment and agency, against a backdrop of societal and internalised ageism. Negative stereotypes of older age often depict vulnerability and decline. Older people may internalise these stereotypes and consequently reduce or limit what they do. However, writing about older artists, François Matarasso (2012, p. 70) contends that when an artist creates something that did not previously exist, she ‘makes an event that changes reality, however slightly and gains agency in her own existence’. The article is based on findings from a phenomenological study of 42 older people who participated in theatre-making workshops designed to give them a practical introduction to key elements of Gaulier and Pagneux’s work: Le Jeu (play), complicité (collaboration and rapport) and disponibilité (openness). The study found that a playful, collaborative and improvisatory approach to theatre-making encouraged participants to act and respond creatively, in the moment, without self-judgement. Participants described the work as being new and often taking them out of their comfort zone. At the same time, they reported experiences of greater self-confidence, freedom and empowerment, counteracting negative images of older age.

Social stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV infection and AIDS patients

Background: Social stigma and discrimination are major barriers to an effective national response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and there have been repeated calls to transform the current surveillance-focused policy. Serious instances of discrimination and clinical service failings increase the urgency and importance of addressing issues relevant to AIDS-related stigma. Yet, progress in achieving effective and people-centered responses to AIDS is insufficient.Current Concepts: Based on a comprehensive multi-sectoral review of a wide range of literature, this article examines the key features of AIDS-related stigma in South Korea and evaluates governmental and organizational efforts to redress them. Three major areas, of issues and possibilities for change, are identified: (1) addressing discrimination in health care settings, (2) decriminalization of HIV transmission, according to the Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U) principle, (3) improving the quality of life and social inclusion of people living with HIV.Discussion and Conclusion: An extensive examination of existing evidence on AIDS-related stigma, guided by the authors’ long-term experience of public participation and civic empowerment, suggests that by placing these three issues at the center of the national response to AIDS, significant improvement in the AIDS care continuum is achievable. People-centered service delivery models that focus on dismantling structural barriers and incorporating leadership from key populations will enable high-impact public health responses to AIDS and HIV infection.

Weighing the Body: Women Olympic Weightlifters Negotiating Weight Class, Body Image, and the Unruly Body

Women athletes’ experiences of gendered body ideals and empowerment have been well-documented. However, the existing literature largely neglects strength sports, which have a complex relationship with gendered norms given their historical association with masculinity and wide range of weight classes. In this article, we use a feminist poststructuralist lens to explore how eight Olympic Weightlifters participating in the women’s category choose their weight classes while balancing strength, competitiveness, and esthetics. Participants often referenced sport-specific and gendered body discourses when choosing their weight classes, yet also identified a nondiscursive element that could force them to forego athletic and esthetic body ideals: the body itself. Based on these narratives, we suggest that awareness of the “rebellious body” be considered an important element of women athletes’ bodily empowerment.

Gender-transformative action, social norms and economic empowerment

Feminist advocacy for ‘gender transformative’ approaches to development, public policy and humanitarian action that account for social norms has surged in recent years. This article intervenes in the debate around norms and implications for transformative approaches. We draw on a unique set of quantitative, global ‘gender data’ collected in 2020 and 2021 and examine how social norms inform women’s experiences of economic empowerment, as well as how these relationships map onto the current debates around interventions to address social norms and the form these interventions ought to take. Our data show that social norms matter for access to and control over resources; in addition, they illustrate that an individual belief in gender equality is fairly common around the world but that such individual beliefs frequently do not coincide with what people think their neighbours believe. These findings suggest a need for consideration of factors beyond individual attitudes towards and beliefs in gender-transformative interventions for women’s economic empowerment.

Human Security and Sustainable Development Goals: The Voices of Afghan Women Refugees in Pakistan

This study investigates the lived experiences of Afghan women refugees in Kohat camps in Pakistan. The objective of the study is to understand women’s everyday experiences of discrimination and/or empowerment while living in these camps. Using the thematic analysis (TA), the major themes extracted in this study relate to submissiveness and docility, gender equality and empowerment, and structural inequalities culminating in discrimination. These themes were found to be influential in the lives of Afghan women refugees. Drawing from the discussions surrounding human security, gender security, SDGs 5 (gender equality) and 10 (reduced inequalities), the key findings suggest that women in camps have cocooned lives, and their patriarchal cultural set-up perpetuates gender-spatial segregation which consequently limits women’s opportunities to access and traverse spaces other than their immediate residential location (camps). In addition, they are deprived of seeking education outside the radius of the camps and are not allowed to have mobile phones. Consequently, this limits their worldview. Given these circumstances, it is pertinent to extend facilitation to refugee women in Pakistan within a holistic framework.

Employee involvement in a hospital building project

Employee involvement in the planning and execution of building projects vastly affects both project success and functionality in the operating stage. This study is based on interviews with employees to investigate how they experience involvement in change processes related to a hospital building project in Norway. This answers the call for more qualitative approaches in project management research to unveil what actually goes on in projects.The study uses several theoretical lenses. First, we look at employees’ access to different bases of power and empowerment. Second, we analyse how path dependence affects experienced involvement. Third, we analyse the employees’ reactions to organizational changes; exit, voice, loyalty and neglect.The findings show the high involvement of appointed employee representatives in project groups, although they sometimes felt powerless and without necessary support. Ordinary employees lacked information and had little experience of empowerment. The project mostly followed a strict process of path dependence, and informants described behaviours of both exit, voice, loyalty and neglect. Lack of employee involvement might have resulted in impractical solutions and undesired employee behaviour.