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Abstract
A participatory approach could be used to implement work place or organizational improvements.
However, the question is which participants should be involved and how. In this paper
the theoretical involvement in different steps of a linear stepwise approach is described
and compared with the latest projects of 300 practitioners. From a theoretical point
of view ergonomists and employees play an essential role in the improvement process
and are involved in most stages of a change process. Designers play an important role
in idea generation and prototyping. Top management and middle management are important
in the first step to set goals that are consistent with the strategy of the enterprise.
Middle management is also needed in the steps where improvements are selected. This
theoretical prediction is affirmed. However, middle management appeared to be also
involved in implementation. The role of ergonomists is in practice limited in later
stages in implementation, which is not preferred by the ergonomists.