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Human Relations Approach in Management

The document discusses the human relations approach to management developed by Elton Mayo based on experiments at Western Electric. It outlines the key characteristics of this approach including that human beings need recognition, appreciation and job satisfaction beyond just financial gains. Managers should treat workers like human beings, encourage informal relations, avoid strict supervision, and encourage worker participation. The approach focuses on understanding human behavior and interpersonal relations to improve production and motivation through good human relations.

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100% found this document useful (2 votes)
253 views2 pages

Human Relations Approach in Management

The document discusses the human relations approach to management developed by Elton Mayo based on experiments at Western Electric. It outlines the key characteristics of this approach including that human beings need recognition, appreciation and job satisfaction beyond just financial gains. Managers should treat workers like human beings, encourage informal relations, avoid strict supervision, and encourage worker participation. The approach focuses on understanding human behavior and interpersonal relations to improve production and motivation through good human relations.

Uploaded by

alyssakayporras3
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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  • Human Relations Approach of Administration
  • Bureaucracy and Educational Significance

AS HUMAN RELATION APPROACH OF ADMINISTRATION

According to Human Relations Approach, management is the Study of behaviour of people at work.

This approach had its origin in a series of experiments conducted by Professor Elton Mayo and his associates at the Harvard School of
Business at the Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne Works, near Chicago.
Elton Mayo is known as the ‘Father of Human Relations Movement’.

Contrast with Taylor’s Approach


◻ Taylor and Mayo's theories believed that a company should be financially strong so that they can fulfill the financial needs of the
workers in order to achieve the organization goals through maximum prosperity.
◻ However, Taylor's principles ignored the concerns of the human resource while Mayo took that into consideration.

Characteristics of Elton Mayo’s Human Relations Approach

The main features of the Human Relations Approach to management are the following:
◻ A manager must have a basic understanding of human behavior in all respects.
◻ The manager must study the inter-personal relations among the people at work.
◻ Larger production and higher motivation can be achieved only through good human relations. ◻ The principles of behavioral
sciences i.e. psychology, sociology are applicable in this approach.

Principles of Human Relations Approach

The basic principles of human relations approach are:- ◻ Human beings are not interested only in financial gains. They also need
recognition and appreciation.
◻ Workers are human beings. So they must be treated like human beings and not like machines. Managers should try
to understand the feelings and emotions of the workers.

◻ An organization works not only through formal relations, but also through informal relations. Therefore,
managers should encourage informal relations in the organization along with formal relations.

◻ Workers need a high degree of job security and job satisfaction. Therefore, management should give job security
and job satisfaction to the workers.
Contd.
◻ Workers want good communication from the managers. Therefore, managers should communicate effectively without feelings
of ego and superiority complex.
◻ In any organization, members do not like conflicts and misunderstandings. Therefore, managers should try to
stop conflicts and misunderstandings among the members of the organization.

◻ Workers want freedom. They do not want strict supervision. Therefore, managers should avoid strict supervision
and control over the workers.

◻ Employees would like to participate in decision making especially, in those matters affecting their interests.
Therefore, management must encourage workers' participation in management. This will increase productivity
and job satisfaction.

Forms of Bureaucracy
Guardian Bureaucracy
◻ Dedicated to general welfare ---Acts as a champion of justice ---Custodian of community’s welfare.
Caste Bureaucracy
◻ Higher administrative positions given to individuals from a specific social background.
For ex. During Mauryan period, senior government positions were given mostly to brahmins.

Human Relation Skills


◻ Leadership skill
◻ Communication skill
◻ Decision making skill
◻ Conceptual skill
◻ Negotiation skill
◻ Counselling skill

Educational Significance of Bureaucratic Approach of Administration


As applied to the educational system, the hierarchical method of organization is observed perfectly. The head of each educational
district is a superintendent. His duty is to supervise the overall function of the district. He mainly presides over the principals of
individual schools. The principals oversee department heads, who, in turn, oversee teachers. Students are at the bottom of this
pyramid. Each level of organization has a particularly defined role. The social stratification of schools is manifested in other methods as
well.

Common questions

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The Human Relations Approach addresses job security and satisfaction by emphasizing the need for management to provide both to workers. By understanding the human need for job security, the approach encourages managers to ensure stable employment conditions and to foster satisfaction through recognition, communication, and involving employees in decision-making processes. This leads to a motivated and loyal workforce .

Leadership skill is significant in the Human Relations Approach because it involves guiding, influencing, and inspiring employees to achieve organizational goals while considering their personal needs and emotions. Effective leaders use interpersonal skills to build good human relations, encourage open communication, and foster a supportive work environment that enhances motivation and productivity .

Bureaucratic administration can be influenced by social backgrounds through practices like caste bureaucracy, where higher positions are often reserved for specific social groups, as seen historically in the Mauryan period . The Human Relations Approach disagrees with such practices, advocating instead for recognizing the human needs of all employees equally, promoting fairness, understanding interpersonal relations, and fostering an inclusive work environment regardless of social background .

Effective communication is vital in the Human Relations Approach as it dissolves misunderstandings and builds trust among team members. Mayo’s principles emphasize managers should communicate without ego or superiority complex. Good communication enhances cooperation and understanding, contributing to higher job satisfaction and organizational efficiency .

Elton Mayo's Human Relations Approach emphasizes understanding human behavior and interpersonal relationships in the workplace. Mayo's approach includes recognizing and appreciating workers, treating them as human beings rather than machines, and understanding their emotional and psychological needs. It promotes good communication, conflict resolution, freedom from strict supervision, and worker participation in decision-making for increased productivity and job satisfaction . On the other hand, Taylor's principles focus primarily on maximizing financial gains and organizational efficiency without giving much consideration to the human and social aspects of workers .

According to Mayo's principles, avoiding strict supervision is crucial because it allows workers to experience a sense of freedom and autonomy, which is essential for job satisfaction and motivation . Strict supervision can lead to a lack of trust and increased stress among workers, consequently reducing productivity. By granting workers autonomy and involving them in decision-making, managers can foster a more collaborative and motivated workforce, aligning with the human needs of freedom and participation .

The Human Relations Approach posits that organizations work not only through formal relations but also through informal ones. Encouraging informal relations fosters a better understanding among employees, leading to a cohesive work environment. This human-centric strategy leads to larger production and higher motivation as the workforce feels more understood and valued, enhancing overall organizational effectiveness .

The Human Relations Approach underscores the importance of both formal and informal relationships to achieve high productivity. While formal relationships define the roles and responsibilities essential for organizational functioning, informal relationships help build camaraderie, trust, and open lines of communication. This balance ensures that employees feel valued and understood, which enhances their motivation and productivity .

Counseling, as a human skill, enhances management effectiveness by addressing individual employee needs and concerns. According to Mayo's approach, managers should possess the ability to understand personal issues and provide the necessary support, promoting a positive and supportive work environment. This personalized attention helps boost morale, increase motivation, and prevent conflicts, overall contributing to organizational success .

In educational systems, hierarchical structures manifest through clearly defined roles, such as those of superintendents, principals, and teachers . While the Human Relations Approach emphasizes the importance of human interactions and informal relationships, its application in rigid hierarchies like educational systems requires careful balancing. The approach suggests encouraging informal relations and promoting participation among staff at various levels to ensure effective communication and job satisfaction, despite the hierarchical constraints .

AS HUMAN RELATION APPROACH OF ADMINISTRATION
According to Human Relations Approach, management is the Study of behaviour of p
◻ In any organization, members do not like conflicts and misunderstandings. Therefore, managers should try to 
stop conflicts

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