Week 1: Topic 1B - Management Theory

Breakdown of Viewpoints

Classical Viewpoint: Scientific Management

- Emphasized the scientific study of work methods to improve the productivity of individual workers

- Key assumption of Scientific Management: people are rational.

Classical Viewpoint: Administrative Management

Concerned with managing the total organization

Behavioral Viewpoint

Emphasized the importance of understanding human behavior and motivating employees toward achievement.

Developed over three phases:

1. Early behaviorism

2. The human relations movement.

3. Behavioral science

Behavioral Viewpoint: Mayo Studies

Mayo led a research group and the conclusion is known as the "Hawthorne effect": Employees worked harder if they received added attention, and thought that managers cared about their welfare and that supervisors paid special attention to them.

Behavioral Viewpoint: Human Relations Movement

Proposed that better human relations could increase worker productivity

Maslow and McGregor

McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y

Theory X: Pessimistic, negative view of workers

Theory Y: Optimistic, positive view of workers

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

- Physiological

- Safety

- Love/belonging

- Esteem

- Self-actualization

Quantitative Viewpoint

Application to management of quantitative techniques, such as statistics and computer simulations. Includes operations management and evidence-based management

Quantitative Viewpoint: Operations Management

Focuses on managing the production and delivery of an organization's products or services

Evidence-based Management

Translating principles based on best evidence into practice to make decision making more rational

Systems Viewpoint

Regards the organization as a system of interrelated parts

Systems Viewpoint: The Four Parts of a System

1. Inputs

2. Transformational processes

3. Outputs

4. Feedback

Systems Viewpoint: Open and Closed Systems

Closed: little interaction with their environment

Open: continuous interaction with their environment

Contingency Viewpoint

Emphasizes that a manager's approach should be contingent on the individual and environment situation

Contemporary Approaches

Management theory continues to evolve, three developments of theory:

- Learning organization

- High performance work practices

- Shared value and sustainable development

Contemporary Approaches: Learning Organization

- Creating and acquiring knowledge

- Transferring knowledge

- Modifying behavior

Contemporary Approaches: High-Performance Work Practices

Enhancing an employee's ability and want to contribute, and improves an organization's ability to keep high performers

Contemporary Approaches: Shared Value and Sustainable Development

Literally the definition of sustainable development