Final answer:
Business practices today often involve granting employees more autonomy and supporting them with resources, reflecting modern management theories focused on cooperation and transformational leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The act of giving employees the authority, tools, and information they need to perform their jobs with greater autonomy is a business philosophy aligned with modern management theories.
Historically, the work environment was rigid and structured, with clear hierarchies represented by directives flowing from managers down to employees. However, modern workplaces often emphasize a more cooperative and team-based approach. This involves empowering employees, often through delegating authority and providing the resources necessary for them to operate almost independently. This has been shown to improve job satisfaction, productivity, and aligns with transformational leadership style, which is more about inspiring and energizing employees rather than controlling them through a transactional system of rewards and punishments. Transformational leadership is characterized by creativity, support, and individual consideration with a focus on driving organizational change.
In today's business world, practices such as telecommuting allow employees more flexibility and control over their work schedules, reflecting a shift towards individual autonomy and a balance between work and family life. This has been further supported by advanced technologies enabling a rapid exchange of information essential for decision-making and problem-solving in real-time.