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Unravelling the Human Relations School: Workplace Dynamics and Employee Motivation!

Last Updated on Jan 06, 2024
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The human relations school focuses on the fact that government is made of people, not just parts like a machine. People have feelings and needs that affect how they do their jobs. The human relations theory delves into the actions of individuals and groups, serving as a framework for managing human beings within an organization. This approach involves the amalgamation of two integral elements: the formal and the informal. The formal aspect pertains to the organizational structure, while the informal aspect focuses on the relationships between individual workers.

This article is a valuable resource for individuals preparing for the UPSC IAS exam and those studying Public Administration as an optional subject. It provides relevant information that can aid in their preparation.

What Is Human Relation School?

Government entities and organizations are traditionally viewed as mechanical systems, with individuals performing isolated tasks. However, in the 1930s and 1940s, the human relations movement emerged, challenging this perception. Scholars recognized that comprehending human interactions and collaboration is crucial for effective governance. This shift in mindset gave rise to the human relations school of public administration, advocating for a departure from rigid bureaucratic models. It emphasized that government institutions consist of real people whose relationships profoundly impact organizational efficacy. Prioritizing the human element over strict regulations fosters content and motivated government employees who find purpose in their roles as part of a collaborative team. Despite subsequent critiques, the human relations school sparked a pivotal discussion, highlighting the significance of interpersonal dynamics in government and the potential for enhanced performance through supportive relationships and individual fulfillment.

Read here about Comparative Public Administration!

Key Elements of Human Relation School

  • The organization should prioritize its workers over machines.
  • Motivating individuals is a crucial aspect of human relations.
  • Motivation is fostered through teamwork and effective coordination among team members.
  • Human relations should align with the goals of both individuals and organizations.
  • Both individuals and organizations should strive for maximum results with minimal input.
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Major Features of Human Relation School

The human relations school focuses on these main features:

  • The government is made of people, not just parts. Workers are individuals with social and psychological needs that affect how well they do their jobs. Workers want good relationships with coworkers and bosses and to feel valued.
  • Focus on interpersonal relationships and group dynamics. The human relations school thinks understanding how people interact and relate to each other is very important. Workers want good communication, cooperation, and inclusion in decisions that affect them. When they have these things, they are more motivated and productive.
  • Treat workers with dignity and consideration. Researchers did studies showing treating workers with respect and kindness actually improved how productive they were. Workers do their best when they feel important, cared about, and part of a team working towards a common goal.
  • Encourage participation and open communication. The human relations school thinks leadership styles that give workers a voice and involve them in decision-making are best. Open communication between bosses and workers leads to a better understanding of each other's needs and goals.
  • Align individual and organizational goals. Leaders can motivate workers by helping them find meaning and purpose in how their specific job contributes to the larger goals of the organization. When individual needs and desires align with the group's purpose, workers are more loyal and engaged.
  • Some key thinkers were influential. Elton Mayo's famous Hawthorne Studies from the 1920s showed that paying attention to and being nice to workers actually improved their productivity. Mayo realized workers' social and emotional needs affect how much output they produce.
  • Chester Barnard also wrote about the importance of communication, leadership and mutual understanding between management and workers. He thought effective cooperation required meeting people's non-economic and psychological needs at work.
  • Chris Argyris argued that traditional, bossy management styles tend to inhibit open communication. He said true organizational health comes when both individual and organizational needs are fit together properly.
  • The human relations school helped change the strict, all-business view of how government operates. It showed that focusing on human factors like relationships, motivation, and meaningful work could make government run better. Instead of just giving orders, leaders could align individual and group goals in a way that engages and supports workers. This approach led to increased worker satisfaction, loyalty, and productivity.
  • The human relations school spotlighted social and psychological factors within government organizations. Its focus on interpersonal relations, group dynamics, communication, and meaningful work highlighted aspects of managing people that were often ignored. By making the human side of government a priority, this school of thought suggested new, more productive ways for administrators and leaders to approach their work.

Also Read Good Governance!

Importance Of Human Relations School

Today, this human relations way of thinking remains important for a few reasons.

  • One reason human relations matters is it focuses on the needs of government workers. Workers are people with feelings and needs that affect how well they do their jobs. They want good relationships with their bosses and coworkers. They want to feel useful and that their work has meaning. Human relations showed that when leaders understand and meet these human needs through things like good communication, helping make choices, and helping individual goals match group goals, workers become more motivated, loyal, and productive.
  • Another reason human relations are important is research showed it could improve how much workers produce and how well government groups perform. In studies like the famous Hawthorne Studies from the 1920s and 1930s, researchers found that just paying attention to workers and treating them with respect actually improved how much they produced. Workers did their best when they felt cared for, part of a team, and liked their job. This showed new ways for government leaders to motivate employees.
  • A third reason human relations matters is it helped change the strict, rule-focused view of how government should work. Researchers showed that instead of just giving orders and following rules, leaders could motivate workers and achieve goals through better communication, helping make choices, cooperation, and good boss-employee relationships. This people-focused approach allowed the goals of individuals and the group to match in a way that led to higher worker satisfaction and productivity. Human relations highlighted ways of leading that had often been ignored.
  • Another reason human relations remain relevant is they highlighted the value of the human side of government groups. Workers' needs - like good communication, meaningful work, feeling useful, and being part of a team - were shown to be just as important for effectiveness and productivity as other things like resources and systems. The human relations way of thinking encouraged leaders to recognize how the way people work together within government offices helps or hurts in achieving important goals.

Also Read About Classical Theory of Public Administration!

George Elton Mayo’s Experiment on Human Relations

George Elton Mayo conducted the famous Hawthorne experiments, which were considered groundbreaking in the field of human relations. Conducted at the Western Electric Hawthorne Works in Chicago during the 1920s and 1930s, these studies aimed to understand the effects of various factors on workers' productivity. Initially investigating the impact of lighting on productivity, Mayo and his team found that worker productivity increased not necessarily due to changes in lighting but rather because the workers were being observed and felt valued. This led to the recognition of the significance of social and psychological factors in the workplace. Mayo's experiments emphasized the importance of human relations, social dynamics, and the psychological well-being of workers in influencing productivity. They laid the foundation for a more human-centric approach to management.

Conclusion

Human relations showed that understanding and meeting the needs of workers through better relationships, cooperation, and communication could actually improve how the government performs. Researchers revealed new ways for leaders to engage, motivate, and link the goals of individuals with the goals of the group, which resulted in higher worker satisfaction, loyalty, and output. So, despite its limitations, the human relations approach highlighted aspects of how people work together that were often ignored previously. Its focus on the human side of government groups remains important for effectiveness and good service to the public.

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Human Relations School FAQs

It focuses on human and social factors in organizations. It emphasizes that understanding interpersonal relationships, motivation, and group dynamics can improve productivity and effectiveness.

The human relations school emerged in the 1930s and 1940s, especially through Hawthorne Studies.

Elton Mayo, Chester Barnard and Chris Argyris were influential thinkers in the human relations school.

Some include treating employees well, encouraging participation and communication, and aligning individual and organizational goals.

It shifted the view from a purely mechanical, top-down view of bureaucracies to a view that embraces the individuality and psychological needs of employees.

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