Organizational Communication

Course Description Lecture Syllabus Lab Syllabus Teams Page CATA333 Home
Course Assignments Lecture Notes Lab Notes Training Resources McGaan Home

last updated 9/11/2008

From Human Relations to Human Resources

Research ultimately failed support the key assumption of the Human Relations movement, that worker satisfaction increases productivity, and experience at the workplace also did not support that assumption consistently.  There also turned out surprising resistance to participatory management schemes and some other HR methods.  Therefore, adjustments were made by HR managers to incorporate more accurate research and experience, resulting in the Human Resources approach to management.  Key theorists and characteristics of the new HR model are found below.

Characteristics of the Human Resources Model
  1. High concern for both people and productivity
  2. Organizational structures that facilitate participatory decision-making
  3. Tasks designed to use full skills of employees
  4. Open formal and informal channels of communication
  5. Clearly established performance objectives which allow substantial autonomy in work
  6. An array of tangible and intangible rewards linked to goal attainment in challenging jobs
  7. Investment in development of personnel resources (e.g. training)

Blake and Mouton's Managerial Grid

A training tool that reflects the outcomes for varying degrees of concern for production versus concern for people.  (see chart on OC p. 47)

Chris Argyris' Perspective

  1. The upper level needs (see Maslow) of healthy people aren't consistent with  mechanistic organizational practices.
  2. Frustrations get worse when organizations rely on formal rules for control; employees need to set and achieve their own goals.
  3. A competitive climate creates hostility and leads to short-term, self-centered perspectives.
  4. Thus, employees become defensive, apathetic, develop ties with other dissatisfieds, leave the organization.
  5. The more mature the workers, the more this happens.


Likert and Ouchi's Theories emphasize collective participation and rewards and open communication.   (OC. pp. 46-49 & 53)

    Discussion Questions for Friday

  • Do you believe HR improves productivity?  What elements of HR account for that?
  • What sorts of communication are improved in an HR managed organization?
  • What specfic features of HR are most useful to organizations?  to employees?  Why?
  • Make a list of effective communication practices that are associated with HR?  Why do they work well?
  • Does HR style of management work better for some types of employees than others?  Who?  Does HR style of management work better for some types of organizations than others?  What types?