Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Relations. Learning Objectives After studying Chapter 1, you will be...

Chapter 1

Introduction to Human Relations

© 2012 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Learning ObjectivesAfter studying Chapter 1, you will be able to:

1–2

Explain the nature, purpose, and importance of human relations.

Identify major developments in the workplace that have given new importance to human relations.

Identify major forces influencing human behavior at work.

Review the historical development of the human relations movement.

Identify seven basic themes that serve as the foundation for effective human relations.

© 2012 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 1–3

The Nature, Purpose, and Importance of Human Relations

• Human Relations Defined– The study of why beliefs, attitudes, and

behaviors sometimes cause problems in personal and professional relationships

How would you describe the study of human relations?


Human Relations in the Age of Information

• Loss of Balance and Perspective– Reliance on information technology comes at a

price—less personal human contact– Over-emphasis on information causes us to

lose sight of nonverbal cues and clues

How do these tendencies affect our abilities to interact and relate with others?


Major Developments That Give New Importance to Human Relations

Major HR Developments

Changing work patterns

Customerservice orientation

Labor market instability

Teamwork and participation

Increasing Diversity

Workplaceincivility



• Labor Market Instability– Mergers, closings, bankruptcies, downsizing,

and outsourcing

• “Free Agent Nation”– Self-employed, temporary, and part-time

workers creates opportunities and challenges

How do these trends affect human relations?



• Increasing focus on customer service to clients, patients, and customers

• Growing epidemic of workplace rudeness, insensitivity, and disrespect




• Increasing use of team organization and worker participation in problem-solving

• Increasing work force diversity in many dimensions– Ethnicity, age, physicality, values, expectations,

and work habits



FIGURE 1.1 Major Relationship Management Challenges


The Influence of the Behavioral Sciences

• Human Relations– Studies the “whys” of behaviors and how that

knowledge can be applied in practical ways

• Goals of Human Relations1. Personal growth and development

2. Achievement of organizational objectives


Human Relations and the “Total Person”

WORK LIFE

PERSONAL LIFE

Emotional Control

Self-Awareness

Physical Fitness

Self-Esteem

Creativity

Values


Need for a Supportive Environment

• A supportive environment can lead to:– Greater personal career satisfaction– Greater employee commitment– Increased organizational productivity and

efficiency

• Requires full commitment and support of management


FIGURE 1.2 Major Forces Influencing Worker Behavior


Major Forces Influencing Worker Behavior

• Organizational Culture– The collection of shared values, beliefs, rituals,

stories, and myths that foster a feeling of community among organizational members

How does the culture of your institution influence the behavior of students and faculty or workers?


• Supervisory-Management Influence:

– Productivity

– Customer relations

– Safety consciousness

– Loyalty to the firm

• Work Group Influence:

– Social needs

– Emotional support

– Problem solving and goal attainment

1–15




• Job Influence– Fulfills economic needs– Provide meaning and fulfillment– Offer satisfying and rewarding work– Can create frustrating sense of powerlessness

What kind of job motivates you to work up to your potential, and with zest? What drains you?


• Personal Characteristics:– Behavior often reflects

a match between firm’s environment and the individual’s personal characteristics (person-job fit)

• Family Influences:– Increase in dual-

income families– Problems on the job,

(e.g., tardiness), are often linked to family issues

1–17



• Early attempts to improve productivity:– Focused on plant

layout and mechanical processes

• Later attempts to improve productivity:– Focus on nature of

work and workers as complex humans

1–18

The Development of the Human Relations Movement

Concern for Things Concern for People


The Human Relations Movement

• The Impact of the Industrial Revolution

– Shifted work from home-based craftwork to factory production; profoundly impacting the nature of work and workers’ roles

– Produced little understanding of employee needs and relation to production processes

– Increased output, but processes were still lacking in efficiency and uniformity



• Taylor’s Scientific Management

– Frederick Taylor redesigned jobs to increase efficiency and reduce wasted effort

• Systematically studied each job to break it down into its smallest movements.

• Productivity increased but required little thinking by worker.



• Mayo’s Hawthorne Studies– Original intentions:

• To study effects of illumination and ventilation on assembly-line worker fatigue

– Fortuitous discoveries:• Feedback (attention paid to workers) and greater

freedom from supervisory control increased worker performance and made them feel important

• Interaction among workers created an “informal organization” of relationships


• During the Great Depression– Interest in human

relations research waned as other concerns gained momentum

• During the postwar economic expansion– Interest in human

relations field increased

– Important theories emerge (Drucker, Berne, McGregor, Maslow, Herzberg)

1–22

Human Relations: From the Great Depression to the New Millennium


FIGURE 1.3 Major Themes in Human Relations


KEY TERMS

1–24

human relations

total person

organizational culture

scientific management

Hawthorne studies

informal organization

communication

self-awareness

self-acceptance

motivation

trust

self-disclosure

conflict resolution

Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Relations. Learning Objectives After studying Chapter 1, you will be...

Documents

Transcript of Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Relations. Learning Objectives After studying Chapter 1, you will be...