Are Scientific Management and Human Relation Approaches Still Applicable to Organizations of the 21th Century?
1.0 Introduction
According to Mary Parker Follet (1941) management is the process of getting things done through people. However, there is no fixed definition of management, but different authorities on management have different views about it. There are different theories that are related on management. The Classical Theory consist of the Scientific Management of Taylor, Administrative Management of Fayol, Bureaucratic Organization of Weber; while the Neo-Classical Theory includes the Human Relations Movement of Mayo, together with others including the Roethsilberger and Dickson and the Behavioral Schools of Maslow, McGregor, Herzberg, Argyris etc (Scribd n.d.).
This paper will focus on studying the theories related with the scientific management and human relation approaches. The problem is that there are different debates which focused on the application or suitability of these two approaches in the current organizational environment.
2.0 Background of the Study
2.1 The Scientific Management Approach
The scientific management is considered as one of the earliest and most vital schools of thought on the management of workplace functions and tasks based on the work of Frederick W. Taylor (1947) (eNotes 2010). This focuses on the management techniques that will help to increase productivity. Thus, it pertains on the fact that most of organization problems are result of misunderstandings between the managers and workers; therefore, it is vital for the managers to conduct scientific analyses about the workplace. One of the primary steps is to conduct an intensive study on how each job could best be accomplished (Zastrow 2008).
2.2 The Human Relations Approach
This approach in motivating workers’ productivity was derived from the study or experiments of the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric in Chicago in 1927. The study showed that when subjects know that they are participants in a study, this awareness leads them to behave differently and substantially influences the results. As a result, this approach focuses on the following:
- the degree of production is set by social norms, nor by physiological capacities;
- noneconomic rewards and sanctions vitally influence the behavior of the workers and largely limit the impact of economic incentive plans;
- workers do not act or react as individuals but as members of the group; and
- the role of leadership is vital in order to understand the different social factors in the organization, and this leadership may be either formal or informal.
3.0 Objectives of the Study
The main aim of the study is to analyze the effectiveness and applicability of scientific management and human relations approach with the current organizational environment and behavior. The following are the objectives:
- to assess the changes in the organizational behavior and characteristics from the time of introduction of the two approaches up to present;
- to evaluate the different factors that are connected with the organizational behavior;
- to analyze the suitability of the approaches to the current operations and behavior of organizations in the current business environment; and
- to recommend a new approach or changes in the two approaches to be used in the current business environment.
4.0 Methodology
The research strategy that the study will utilize is the descriptive method. A descriptive research intends to present facts concerning the nature and status of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study (Creswell, 1994). It is also concerned with relationships and practices that exist, beliefs and processes that are ongoing, effects that are being felt, or trends that are developing. (Best, 1970) In addition, such approach tries to describe present conditions, events or systems based on the impressions or reactions of the respondents of the research (Creswell, 1994). This research is also cross-sectional because of limited time. This research is a study of a particular phenomenon (or phenomena) at a particular time. (Saunders et al, 2003)
4.1 Data Collection
The survey method, also known as the questionnaire method, will be used in gathering the data for this study.
Surveys are the most common form of research method for collection of primary data (Commonwealth of Learning, 2000). One of its purpose is to describe, e.g., to count the frequency of some event or to assess the distribution of some variables such as proportion of the population of different age groups, sex, religion, castes and languages, knowledge, attitude and adaption of practices about particular issues, and other information of similar nature about the population (Commonwealth of Learning, 2000).
4.2 Sample Frame
The study will sample a target number of 150 managers in the UK. The samples will be chosen via random sampling. Random sampling must be used so that the representative population will not be tainted by any bias and prejudices.
4.3 Data Analysis
The data results of the study will be analyzed by determining their corresponding frequency, percentage and weighted mean. The following statistical formulas will be used:
1. Percentage – to determine the magnitude of the responses to the questionnaire.
n
% = -------- x 100 ; n – number of responses
N N – total number of respondents
2. Weighted Mean
f1x1 + f2x2 + f3x3 + f4x4 + f5x5
x = --------------------------------------------- ;
xt
where: f – weight given to each response
x – number of responses
xt – total number of responses
4.3 Timetable
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Problem
Identification
Literature
Review
Research
Design
Choice of
Methodology
Data
Sources
Data
Collection
Data
Analysis
Writing up
Draft
Editing
Final
Document
Binding of
Document
5.0 References
Best, J W 1970, Research in Education, 2nd Ed. Englewood Cliffs,Prentice Hall, Inc., NJ
Commonwealth of Learning 2000, Manual for Educational Media Researchers: Knowing your Audience, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), Vancouver, Canada.
Creswell, J W 1994, Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, Sage, California.
e-Notes 2010, Scientific Management, http://www.enotes.com/business-finance-encyclopedia/scientific-management [Accessed 3 February 2010].
Saunders, M, Lewis, P & Thornhill, A 2003, Research Methods for Business Students, 3rd Ed., Prentice Hall Financial Times, London
Scribd, Scientific Management and Human Relations Movement, http://www.scribd.com/doc/7482428/Scientific-Management-and-Human-Relations-Movement [Accessed 3 February 2010].
Zastrow, C 2009, The Practice of Social Work: A Comprehensive Worktext, Cengage Learning.
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