Identifying Indicators for Implementing Economic Democracy in Organizations: Policy and Social Orientations
Keywords:
Economic democracy, levels of governance, organizational capacity, economic justiceAbstract
This study aims to identify and conceptualize the indicators of implementing economic democracy in organizations with an emphasis on policy frameworks and social orientations. This qualitative study employed a grounded theory approach. Participants included senior and middle managers as well as employee representatives of Golgohar Industrial and Mining Company, selected through purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved (n=16). Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Data analysis followed open, axial, and selective coding procedures based on the Strauss and Corbin paradigm model. Trustworthiness was ensured using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria, including credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. The findings revealed that institutional structure and governance, organizational culture and behavior, and economic-managerial capacity function as core causal conditions shaping economic democracy. Contextual factors such as legal frameworks, socio-cultural environments, organizational infrastructures, and human capacities significantly influenced implementation. Intervening factors included leadership quality and inter-organizational networking capacity. The central phenomenon comprised institutionalized participation, system reengineering, strategic alignment, and social capital development, ultimately leading to organizational, economic, and human outcomes. Implementing economic democracy requires a systemic approach integrating structural, cultural, and managerial capacities to enhance participation, equity, and organizational effectiveness.
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