Behavioral Science Approach
There are a number of individuals who have developed their theories based on the individual, not the organization. These behavioralists include Bakke, Barnard, and Argyris. Their theories concerned the relationship between the individual and the organization. Abraham Maslow, possibly the most famous behavioralist, developed his Hierarchy of Needs. His theory suggested a pyramidal structure of human needs that every individual seeks to have met. These needs move from basic physiological needs, such as the need for air, food, and water, to safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and the need for self-actualization. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is important in that organizations must help to provide employees with the ability to satisfy their needs so that they can become more productive employees.
Perhaps less known than Maslow but equally important to the behaviorist theory was Douglas McGregor, who suggested 2 what he called “theories” concerning the relationship between an individual in a supervisory job and workers. In his theory, known as McGregor’s theory of X and Y, McGregor suggests that a Theory X manager is one who thinks that all workers are lazy, that they have no interest in the success of the organization, and that they have a strong dislike for work. To achieve any productivity, a manager or supervisor must control and threaten workers. Theory X suggests that workers must continually be directed and, further, that they actually desire the constant supervision of an authority figure. They must constantly be prodded and have no desire to see the organization succeed.
Theory Y suggests the opposite, namely, that workers want the company or organization to succeed and that physical or mental effort in work is natural and is desirable by employees. Some 21 years after McGregor’s publication of his theory of X and Y, professor William Ouchi developed his Theory Z, which is considered to be a cornerstone of Japanese industry. This theory suggests that to obtain maximum productivity from workers, they must be given a sense of ownership in the organization. They must feel that they are important and worthy and, further, that their ideas and suggestions are considered by management.
Frederick Herzberg is famous for developing what he called a two-factor theory of motivation. He distinguished factors know as hygiene factors – factors that cause or prevent job dissatisfaction – and motivation factors – factors that cause job satisfaction. Hygiene factors include company policies and administration, working conditions, and salary. According to Herzberg, these factors do not contribute to job satisfaction, but the absence of them causes job dissatisfaction. Motivation factors allow for a sense of job satisfaction among workers. Motivating factors include a sense of achievement, recognition by the organization, and the potential for growth and advancement in the organization.
Rensis Likert is known as a participatory management theorist. He devised a 4-part system of stages of management consisting of exploitative, authoritarian, benevolent, and participative. The Likert system further developed McGregor’s theory of X and Y and approaches Ouchi’s theory Z in suggesting that the best managers are participative: They include workers in the decision-making process.
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