Collective Human Agency in the Context of Organizational Participation
Contributions From Social Cognitive Theory and Activity Theory
Abstract
Abstract. Connecting the social cognitive approach of human agency by Bandura (1997) and activity theory by Leontiev (1978), this paper proposes a new theoretical framework for analyzing and understanding employee participation in organizational decision-making. Focusing on the social cognitive concepts of self-reactiveness, self-reflectiveness, intentionality, and forethought, commonalities, complementarities, and differences between both theories are explained. Efficacy in agency is conceived as a cognitive foundation of work motivation, whereas the mediation of societal requirements and resources through practical activity is conceptualized as an ecological approach to motivation. Additionally, we discuss to which degree collective objectifications can be understood as material indicators of employees’ collective efficacy. By way of example, we explore whether an integrated application of concepts from both theories promotes a clearer understanding of mechanisms connected to the practice of employee participation.
Zusammenfassung. Auf Basis des sozial-kognitiven Ansatzes der Human Agency von Bandura (1997) und der Tätigkeitstheorie von Leontiev (1978) schlägt dieser Artikel einen neuen theoretischen Rahmen zur Analyse der Partizipation von Arbeitenden an Entscheidungen in Unternehmen vor. Mit Blick auf die sozial-kognitiven Konzepte der Selbstreaktivität, Selbstreflexivität, Intentionalität und Vorausschau werden Gemeinsamkeiten, Komplementaritäten und Unterschiede zwischen beiden Theorien untersucht. Das Erleben von Wirksamkeit im Handeln wird als kognitive Grundlage der Arbeitsmotivation betrachtet, während die Vermittlung von gesellschaftlichen Anforderungen und Ressourcen durch praktische Tätigkeit als ein ökologischer Ansatz der Motivation konzeptualisiert wird. Dabei wird auch diskutiert, inwiefern gemeinsame Vergegenständlichungen als materielle Indikatoren der kollektiven Wirksamkeit von Arbeitenden verstanden werden können. Exemplarisch wird dargelegt, inwieweit eine integrierte Anwendung von Konzepten aus beiden Theorien dabei hilft, Mechanismen, die mit der Praxis der Partizipation von Mitarbeitern im Unternehmen verbunden sind, besser zu verstehen.
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