1 Should empowerment be a central part of all HRM policies? Give reasons for your answer Empowerment is a management practice concerned with giving front-

line employees more responsibility, resources and authority. It is something that is far more than delegation: in effect it means harnessing the creativity and brainpower of all employees, not just the chosen few, such as managers. Properly empowered employees are well placed to maximise their potential and, in the process, enhance the competitive advantage of their organisation (Chen et al., 2007). Empowerment is seen as supportive of a no‑blame culture, where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities.