Empowerment is a term that is applied to individuals and groups in society and in organizations. Literally, it means the taking of power by individuals or groups; alternatively, it means power being granted to individuals or groups by an authority. Thus, empowerment is the organizational or social practice in which someone in a position of power gives some of that power or authority to others. Typically, those receiving power would be the members of a group in a subordinate or disadvantaged position. As an example, a manager might empower employees to take charge of their own quality control process in a production line rather than having a quality control check at the end of the line.

Sometimes, empowerment is viewed as a psychological state of mind ...