Human Relations Approaches

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Human Relations Approaches

• COMM 254 Organizational Communication

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Basic Assumptions

• Human relationships are the central concern in
  organizing and getting work done.
• Need for emphasis on individuals and
  relationships within work groups.
• People want to work and have a need to be
  involved.
• A happy worker is a productive worker!

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Foundations of the HR Movement

• The Hawthorne Studies (pp. 26-27)
• Conducted by Elton Mayo beginning in 1920s
• Conducted at Western Electric Companys Hawthorne
  Plant in Illinois
• Challenged the importance of work design and
  organizational structure
• Suggested other more important factors
  influencing worker behavior
• Suggested rigid control of work design processes
  and organizational structure have limited,
  variable, and potentially negative impact on
  worker productivity

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A New Focus

• Social values and norms
• Group behavior, relationships, including informal
  groups
• Leadership...including informal leadership
• Decentralization of decision making (dont just
  allow...elicit and encourage it)
• Participation and involvement as keys to
  motivation and productivity

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A New Equation??
Happy!!

Productive
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Supporting Theories

• Maslows Hierarchy of Needs (p. 29)
• The prepotent NEED Pyramid
• Herzbergs Motivation-Hygiene Theory (p. 31)
• Are you satisfied but not motivated? Motivated
  but not satisfied? Both? Neither?
• McGregors Theory X and Theory Y (p. 33)
• A theory of managerial lay theories

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Add Charles Redding
As communicators, effective supervisors are

• More communication-minded

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Add Charles Redding
As communicators, effective supervisors are

• Willing, approachable, understanding (empathic)
  listeners

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Add Charles Redding
As communicators, effective supervisors are

• More apt to engage in (and are perceived as
  engaging in) requesting or persuading rather
  than telling or demanding

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Add Charles Redding
As communicators, effective supervisors are

• Sensitive to the feelings and face of others

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Add Charles Redding
As communicators, effective supervisors are

• Apt to pass on information openly, in a timely
  fashion, and with accompanying reasons and
  rationale for changes in policies and practices

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So What Metaphor Fits Here?
A machine thats fun for the whole big happy
family!!!
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Human Relations Approaches A View of
Communication

• Content ? Task and Social
• Direction ? Vertical and horizontal
• Channel ? Open face-to-face
• Style ? Informal