Methodology and results of a awareness raising workshop for the empowerment of labor organizations

Abstract

Introduction: The Human Change Group of the Center for Psychological and Sociological Research has been conducting Empowerment and Communication Workshops for more than 15 years. This is a training activity par excellence that uses experiential learning to raise awareness of empowerment among key stakeholders in workplace organizations.

Objective: This research aimed to systematize the methodology and results of the Empowerment and Communication Workshops, including relevant aspects of their recent editions.

Methods: The methodology of experience systematization was used, based on the action-research model, articulating a variety of methods and instruments of inquiry.

Results: The different stages through which the workshop has progressed were identified, its general design was characterized, and its exercises and sessions were critically analyzed. The systematization of the results yielded the operationalization of dimensions of empowerment and positive changes, mainly related to the empowerment of the individual. In addition, the factors that influence the awareness achieved in the workshop were identified. The research process showed complete consistency with the conceptual foundations and the methodological strategy used. Some lessons learned and their significance beyond this study are discussed.

Conclusions: The research objectives were achieved; the relevance of these workshops in raising awareness of empowerment among participants is highlighted, and the role of process facilitation in driving essentially human changes in workplace organizations is promoted.