Elton Mayo and his ground breaking study of Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne Plant
in Chicago which he conducted for a decade (Shafritz & Hyde, 2017). Mayo managed to switch
the focus of attention away from the individual and physical considerations to the importance of
groups at work requiring sociological and psychological consideration.
Chester Barnard published a management theory book on the functions of leaders in
organizations (Mahawar, 2023). He claimed that social systems require employee cooperation if
they are to be effective, and introduced the idea of examining the organization’s external
environment and adjusting its internal structure to balance the two.
Abraham Maslow’s pioneering work on human behavior laid the foundations for the later
development of behavior management theories. He suggested that there are five sets of human
goals which may be called basic needs. These are: (i) physiological; (ii) safety; (iii) love/sense of
belonging; (iv) self-esteem; and (v) self-actualization or self-fulfillment, and they are arranged in
order of importance (Mahawar, 2023).
Douglas McGregor was noted for his Theory X and Theory Y assumptions concerning two
different types of workers (McGregor, 2023). Theory X depicts the average human being as
having an inherent dislike of work and will avoid it if he can. Theory Y postulates that the
expenditure of physical and mental effort in work is as natural as play or rest, and that control
and punishment are not the only ways to make people work because man will direct himself if he
is committed to the aims of the organization.
The neoclassical approach as seen in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs expresses a belief that
everyone has the potential to self-actualize (Theory, 2023). Maslow’s theory offers the best
approach since it shows that humans strive to meet their basic needs and will work to fulfill
additional needs to feel more self-actualized. This means that workers will look to find a deep
purpose and passion in their role that will turn into excellence in whatever they do. Employers
should look to meet those needs and reinforce them to bring out the full potential of each
individual. Management should stop looking for the negative and reinforce the positive to get
workers to realize that they are important to the success of the organization.
Scripture seems to promote the aspects of the neoclassical approach. Paul encouraged the
church in Philippi to look out for the interests of others rather than their own (Christian Standard
Bible, 2020, Philippians 2:4). We can do this by meeting the basic needs of others and aiding in
their journey to self-actualization.
WORD COUNT 424
References
Christian Standard Bible. (2020). Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. (Original work published
2017).
Mahawar, M.K. (2023). Evolution Of Management Theories. Madhav University.
https://madhavuniversity.edu.in/evolution-of-management-theories.html, accessed
September 5, 2023.
MindTools. (2023). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
https://www.mindtools.com/a4denhh/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs, accessed September
5, 2023.
MindTools. (2023). Theory X and Theory Y.
https://www.mindtools.com/adi3nc1/theory-x-and-theory-y, accessed September 5, 2023.
Shafritz, J., & Hyde, A. (2017). Classic of Public Administration. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Taylor,
I enjoyed reading your post highlighting the need for leaders of public organizations need to
treat their staff with dignity and respect. Nonprofits depend heavily on its staff whether they are
working on impactful community programs or planning fundraising campaigns. Staff members
play a special role in the organization’s ability to create change (Foundant, 2023). However, the
nonprofit’s productivity will decrease if the staff are overburdened with heavy workloads or start
to feel less connected to your mission. A good way to build a team of committed nonprofit
players is to build a concrete plan to revitalize the staff. A huge component is recruiting new
talent and maximizing the existing staff’s skills and interests, leading to a happier and more
efficient workforce. This will result in a nonprofit that can stay focused on its mission, not on
staffing or retention issues.
We are living in a world of entitlement, self-promotion, and impersonal, virtual relationships,
many people have forgotten what it means to be kind to one another. We are called to become
like Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one
another, just as God also forgave you in Christ (Christian Standard Bible, 2020, Ephesians 4:32).
WORD COUNT 203
Blessings!
Dan
References
Christian Standard Bible. (2020). Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. (Original work published
2017).
Foundant Technologies. (2023). Nonprofit Staffing Strategies: 4 Expert Tips for Success.
https://resources.foundant.com/blog/nonprofit-staffing-strategies-four-expert-tips-for-
success, accessed September 11, 2023.
Josh,
I was debating on which theory would best fit in today’s nonprofit organization. I am a bit
older and took the side of meeting the needs as described by Maslow. However, Theory Y did
come in a close second. Theory Y emphasizes that people will exert self-control and self-
direction in order to achieve organizational objectives and goals. Theory Y managers have a
good attitude toward their employees and employ a decentralized, participatory management
style (Galani & Galanakis, 2022). This fosters a more collaborative and trusting connection
between managers and employees. People are given more responsibility, and supervisors
encourage them to improve their abilities and make suggestions. Appraisals are conducted on a
regular basis that are intended to foster open dialogue rather than to control employees.
Employees are also given regular opportunities for development. This management style
presupposes that employees are willing to work on their own initiative, have involvement in
decision making, have self-motivation to complete their daily tasks, enjoy taking ownership of
their work, seek and take responsibility, and require minimal guidance, view work as challenging
and fulfilling and solve problems in a creative and inventive manner (Ibid).
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing (Christian
Standard Bible, 2020, 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
WORD COUNT 210
Blessings!
Dan
References
Christian Standard Bible. (2020). Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. (Original work published
2017).
Galani, A. & Galanakis, M. (2022). Organizational Psychology on the Rise—McGregor’s X and
Y Theory: A Systematic Literature Review. Scientific Research 13(5).
DOI: https://1 0.4236/psych.2022.135051 .
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