M A N A G E M E N T H I S T O RY:

Behavioral Approach
How Behavioral Approach differs from other approaches?
 In this Presentation
Here’s what we’ll cover:
I. What is the Behavioral Approach to Management?
II. Early Contributors to Behavioral Approach

III. Human Relations Theory

a. Elements of Human Relations Theory
b. Two Primary Contributors of Human Relations Theory
1. Elton Mayo - Hawthorne Experiments
2. Mary Parker Follet - Psychological Tool

IV. How Today’s Companies Use the Behavioral Approach: Human Relations Theory
 • Often called as “Human Relations
Movement” or “Neo-Classical
Management Theory”
• Focuses upon individual behavior,
Behavioral motivations, and social interactions.
• Specifically, it incorporates the
Approach to study of human behavior through
psychology, sociology, and
Management anthropology. 
• Behavioral Management Theory can
be broken unto two major theories:
1. Human Relations Theory
2. Behavioral Science Theory
Early Contributors
to Behavioral Approach

Elton Mayo  Chester Barnard Abraham Maslow

(1920s) (1930s)  (1943)

• Human relations and the social • Thought organizations were • Human needs are never completely
needs of workers are crucial social systems that required satisfied.
aspects of business cooperation. • Human behavior is purposeful and
management. • Believed manager’s job was to is motivated by the need for
• Mayo’s findings, referred to as communicate and stimulate satisfaction.
the Hawthorne Effect - employees high levels of effort. • Needs can be classified
Individuals perform better • First to argue that organizations according to a hierarchical
when given special attention.  were open systems. structure of importance, from
the lowest to highest.
Early Contributors
to Behavioral Approach
Robert Owen  Mary Parker Follet
(Late 1700s)
• Concerned about deplorable
working conditions.
• Proposed idealistic
workplace.
• Argued that money spent
improving labor was smart
investment.
(Early 1900s)
• One of the first to recognizes
that organizations could be
viewed from perspective of
individual and group behavior.
• Proposed more people-oriented
ideas than scientific
management followers.
• Thought organization should be
based on group ethic.
Hugo Munsterberg
(Early 1900s)
• Pioneer in field of industrial
psychology – scientific study of
people at work.
• Suggested using psychological
tests for employees selection,
learning theory concepts for
employee training, and study of
human behavior for employee
motivation.
• Focuses specifically on the
individuals needs and resultant
behaviors of individuals and
groups.
• It presents the organization is Human
made up of formal (structure)
and informal elements which
Relations
include the interactions between Theory
individuals.
• In this way, the organization is a
type of social system. 
 1 2 3
A focus on Organizational environment Human relations are
people is not an organized social important in motivating
context people

4 5 6
Motivation depends upon Fulfill both individual and Desire efficiency by
teamwork organizational objectives achieving maximum results
simultaneously with minimum inputs

Elements of Human Relations Theory

 Who are the Primary Contributors
to Human Relations Theory?
ELTON MAYO 
• Associate professor of industrial
research at Harvard University
• Founder of industrial sociology and
human relations movement
• Father of the Human Relations
Approach to Management Theory.
• Conducted (4) four parts of
Hawthorne Experiments from 1924 to
1932 of Hawthorne Works: A Western
Electric Company along with Fritz
Roethlisberger and their team.
 1924 to 1927 Illumination Experiments

1927 to 1929 Relay Assembly Test

4 Parts of Room Study

Hawthorne
1928 to 1930 Mass Interviewing Program
Experiments

1932 Bank Wiring Observation

Room Experiment
1
OBJECTIVE:
Illumination
Experiment

To find out how varying levels of amount of

light at the workplace affected productivity.

RESULT:
No relationship between illumination of light
and productivity.
2
OBJECTIVE:
Relay Assembly
Test Room Study
Designed to determine the effect of changes
in various job conditions in group activity.

RESULT:
Physical factors were not affecting the
productivity, it was the attitude or the group
behavior that was affecting the productivity.
3
OBJECTIVE:
Mass Interviewing
Program
To study the human behavior in the company.

RESULT:
Worker’s behavior was influenced by group
behavior.
4
OBJECTIVE:
Bank Wiring Observation
Room Experiment

To analyze the functioning of small group

and its impact on individual behavior.

RESULT:
This study suggested that informal
relationships are an important factor in
determining the human behavior
NO. EXPERIMENT OBJECTIVE RESULT

To find out how varying

No relationship between
Illumination levels of amount of light at
1 illumination of light and
Experiment the workplace affected
productivity.
productivity.
Designed to determine the Physical factors were not affecting
Relay Assembly
effect of changes in various the productivity, it was the
2 Test Room
job conditions in group attitude or the group behavior that
Study
activity. was affecting the productivity.
Mass
Interviewing To study the human Worker’s behavior was influenced
3
Program behavior in the company. by group behavior.

Bank Wiring To analyze the functioning This study suggested that informal
Observation of small group and its impact relationships are an important
4 Room on individual behavior. factor in determining the human
Experiment behavior.
Who are the Primary Contributors
to Human Relations Theory?
MARY PARKER FOLLET 
• Mother of Conflict Resolution
• Considered as a pioneer in
organizational behavior and
organizational management theory.
• Understood the importance of
personal relationship and
collaboration within society as well as
the workplace.
• Emphasized the Fluid Management
style (Example: Google)
She’s known for her She believes employee
management theories: can:
1. Power with
✔ Be owners
2. Integration
✔ Make decision
3. Diversity
✔ Be leaders
4. Collaboration

5. Groups
How Today’s Companies Use the
Behavioral Approach:
Human Relations Theory?
Online Links:
• https://thebusinessprofessor.com/en_US/management-leadership-organizational-behavior/behavio
ral-management-approach?fbclid=IwAR3MX4-QHK5RXnh5irbW_12PZZHBClGoLNkzcVKK_uXtvNw
dmGCT012BE-s

• https://thebusinessprofessor.com/en_US/management-leadership-organizational-behavior/human-
relations-theory-of-management

• https://www.slideshare.net/janettie/management-approaches?fbclid=IwAR2JNibFr_wMu47bnLSv
QCqS77-18m47W-TB0NJKN3nwW7ASPcwnaNQM0ts

• https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/principles-of-management/the-evolution-of-management
-thought/behavioral-management-theory?fbclid=IwAR3MEglhq-wsah1-93tm-qCgjUNGwPFbY4vHbf
HQao44JOXaqSyStIgV9UE

• https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-humanresourcesmgmt/chapter/behavioral-management-
theories/?fbclid=IwAR2W9bgmMxP0FplUb1ZwIy3um0QLyNzkVMMiRGfq4BONwBSXkMkbarX1MI
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