Human Relations Theory of Organizations

Synonyms

Employee satisfaction; Informal networks; Social relations

Definition

Human relations theory: a school of organizational thought which focuses on worker satisfaction, informal workplace organizations, and a means of influencing employee productivity. Unlike scientism, human relations theory does not view workers as essentially interchangeable parts.

Introduction

The human relations theory of organizations has three main components. First, the theory places an emphasis on the importance of the individual. A worker is not simply a cog in a machine but an idiosyncratic individual who responds to his or her environment. Maximizing the productivity of workers requires taking these individual characteristics into account. Second, human relations theory takes into account the informal organizations in the workplace. What is important to a worker – and what influences her productivity level – may not be the official organizational chart but her or his associations with other workers....