Elton Mayo and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Elton Mayo

• Elton Mayo (1880-1949):

  • started his study in philosophy and psychology in 1907 at the University of Adelaide

  • he graduate with honors in 1910 and also won a Robe Fletcher prize in psychology

    • in the late 1920s, he led a Harvard research group to conduct worker productivity studies at Western Electric’s Hawthorne (chicago) plant

    • 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

      • studies were flawed but they brought special attention to the effects of good human relations on worker productivity

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

1. physiological need (most basic physical need): need for food, clothing, shelter, comfort, self-preservation

2. safety need: need for physical safety, emotional security, avoidance of violence

   1. workplace example: health insurance, job security

3. love need: need for love, friendship, affection

   1. workplace example: office parties

4. esteem need: need for self-respect, status, reputation, recognition, self-confidence

   1. workplace example: bonuses, promotions, awards

5. self-actualization need (the highest level need): need for self-fulfillment, increasing competence, suing abilities to the fullest

   1. workplace example: sabbatical leave to further personal growth

Douglas McGregor - Theory X vs Theory Y

• Douglas McGregor:

  • briefly considered becoming a lay preacher

  • instead he chose to pursue a psychology degree

  • he ended up dropping out of college and working in a gas station for awhile

  • he observed a management’s view of workers from two different perspectives

• theory X: represents a pessimistic, negative view of workers

  • workers are irresponsible, resistant to change, lack ambition, hate work, and want to be led

• theory Y: represents an optimistic, positive view of workers

  • workers are considered capable of accepting responsibility, self-direction, self-control, and being creative