Employee participation and learning, a strategy for changes: "experiments" as tools in the change process

The purpose of this paper is to show and discuss possibilities and problems cencerning changes using a participatory strategy and with a good working environment in focus. The processing industry is chosen as example. The case study shows that organizational changes can be rather problematic. The beginning of the change process where all actors are assumed to use all their potentials in developing their future organization is described. The different employee groups need to learn to participate. An important point is to use the change process to establish a learning culture. Experiments based on reflective learning in an "experimentarium" as support for the change process, and the positive results obtained are discussed.