Ideas with Impact
UNB Faculty of Management

A manager at a New Brunswick healthcare center is forming a new team of medical professionals to explore innovative solutions for reducing wait times in emergency rooms.

Imagine the positive impact this could have on our communities. Shorter wait times mean quicker treatment, less stress for patients and families and a more efficient healthcare system overall.

A team of researchers, including Dr. Shagufta Sarwar, a human resources management professor at UNB’s faculty of management, has published a study that sheds light on how managers can encourage innovative behaviors among their teams to enhance performance.

The study was inspired by the growing demand in Australia for project managers with experience in digital projects, particularly in IT, healthcare and construction. “While these demands may vary across regions due to economic factors,” says Dr. Sarwar, “there's a clear preference for project managers knowledgeable in agile methodologies, underscoring the widespread adoption of agile practices across different sectors.”

The study, titled “Agile Practices and Performance: Examining the Role of Psychological Empowerment” (2021), was published in the International Journal of Project Management. It explores how psychological empowerment can boost innovation and improve the performance of project management teams.

Psychological empowerment is a concept from industrial-organizational psychology. It involves giving people more autonomy, allowing them to make their own choices, take responsibility and participate in decision-making within organizations.

Dr. Sarwar’s study found that factors like team autonomy and effective communication significantly enhance innovative behaviors, such as curiosity, collaboration, and the ability to handle ambiguity, which in turn improve team performance.

“Managers need to consider team maturity and organizational skills, which come with experience, when designing their project teams,” suggests Dr. Sarwar.

For the manager at the New Brunswick healthcare center, incorporating individuals with strong social skills into the team will help foster psychological empowerment. This empowerment leads to innovative behavior and improved team performance, benefiting everyone involved—hospitals, doctors, nurses, medics, patients, family members and the broader community.

Dr. Sarwar joined UNB’s faculty of management in January 2024. She is a member of the Human Resources Management area and teaches courses in labour relations and human resources selection systems.

Her research interests include areas of employee engagement, green human resource practices, and corporate social responsibility.

This study provides valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners, highlighting the importance of psychological empowerment in fostering innovation and improving team performance in project management.

Photo: Dr. Shagufta Sarwar’s research provides practical insights on how psychological empowerment can inspire innovative work behaviours and improve performance.

Learn more about Dr. Shagufta Sarwar and about UNB’s Faculty of Management.

For more information about this story contact Liz Lemon-Mitchell.