Economics, Management, and Financial Markets 12(2), 2017

pp. 88–96, ISSN 1842-3191, eISSN 1938-212X

EFFECTS OF EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT

AS A PART OF INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

HATICE SARAY
herturk@selcuk.edu.tr
Selcuk University
LAURA PATACHE
laura.patache@spiruharet.ro
Spiru Haret University
MEHMET BURAK CERAN
mbceran@selcuk.edu.tr
Selcuk University

ABSTRACT. Innovation has an important role to ensure the creation of new

markets, rapid technological progress, consumption level and enhancement of life
standards. Nowadays, the intense competition among enterprises, technological
developments, socio-cultural exchanges and the tendencies of the global markets are
the factors which forced the companies to innovate. This is the manner in which
companies can jump in “the blue ocean.” Innovation and innovation process have
become vital for enterprises and they need to be consciously managed to succeed.
Innovation management needs to be implemented because it supports technology,
business processes and human relations of an enterprise. Increasing staff’s initiative
and decision-making authority, encouraging the innovative culture development,
rewarding bold initiatives and mobilization of creative thinking have a strategical
importance for the innovation management process. Employee empowerment, which
is studied in literature under the concepts of authorizing and strengthening, surfaces
at this point. In this study, the impacts of innovation management practices and
employee empowerment in innovation management in businesses are highlighted.
JEL codes: M120; O320; O350

Keywords: innovation; innovation management; employee empowerment

1. Introduction
Increased international competition, globalization, quick and constant
change in customer expectations have increased the importance of human
resources in businesses. Therefore, studies in the field have become more
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