BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE APPROACH OF

MANAGEMENT UNDER THE NEO-

CLASSICAL THEORY

SUBJECT: MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

SUBJECT CODE: MBR1010T
GUIDE: PROF. DR. SOMA SUR

GROUP MEMBERS:
ANSHUMAN BAXLA – 0076
SARTHAK DAS – 0077
ANISH MAJUMDAR – 0078
RAHUL BHAKKAR – 0079
AAKASH PAREKH – 0080
SUBHRO BOSE – 0081

(M.B.A SECTION 2)

1
 CONTENTS
PAGE NO
Evolution of 3
Management
Behavioural Science 4
Approach of
Management – Concept

Importance Of The 5
Behavioural Science
Approach To
Management
Characteristics Of The 6
Behavioural Science
Approach

Advantages Of The 7
Behavioural Science
Approach To
Management

Criticisms Of The 8
Behavioural Science
Approach To
Management
Conclusion 9

2
EVOLUTION OF MANAGEMENT THEORIES

As management research continued in the 20th century, questions began to come

up regarding the interactions and motivations of the individual within
organizations. Management principles developed during the classical period were
simply not useful in dealing with many management situations and could not
explain the behavior of individual employees. In short, classical theory ignored
employee motivation and behavior. As a result, the behavioral school was a
natural outgrowth of this revolutionary management experiment.

The behavioural management theory is often called the human relations

movement because it addresses the human dimension of work. Behavioural
theorists believed that a better understanding of human behaviour at work, such
as motivation, conflict, expectations, and group dynamics, improved
productivity.

The theorists who contributed to this school viewed employees as individuals,

resources, and assets to be developed and worked with — not as machines, as in
the past. Several individuals and experiments contributed to this theory.

Elton Mayo's contributions came as part of the Hawthorne studies, a series of

experiments that rigorously applied classical management theory only to reveal
its shortcomings. The Hawthorne experiments consisted of two studies
conducted at the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Company in Chicago
from 1924 to 1932.
Abraham Maslow, a practicing psychologist, developed one of the most widely
recognized need theories, a theory of motivation based upon a consideration of
human needs.
Douglas McGregor was heavily influenced by both the Hawthorne studies and
Maslow. He believed that two basic kinds of managers exist Douglas
McGregor was heavily influenced by both the Hawthorne studies and Maslow.
He believed that two basic kinds of managers exist

As a group, these theorists discovered that people worked for inner satisfaction
and not materialistic rewards, shifting the focus to the role of individuals in an
organization's performance.

3
 BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE APPROACH OF
MANAGEMENT – CONCEPT

The Behavioural Science Approach is an extension of the Human

Relations Approach. It gave value to attitudes, behaviour and
performance of people and groups within the organisations. The
advocates of the behavioural science approach consider that humans
are much more complex than the economic man description of the
classical approach and the social man description of the human
relations approach. This approach focuses on the nature of work, and
the degree to which it will satisfy the human need to show skills and
expertise.

To get better employee performance, communication, motivation,

participative management, leadership and group dynamics are
integrated in this approach. The behavioural approach acknowledges
the quality of leadership as a major element in management success. It
concentrates on group relationship and recognizes the part of
individual mindset and group behaviour in organisational effectiveness.

Abraham Maslow, Fredrick Herzberg, Douglas McGregor, Victor

Vroom, James March, Herbert Simon, Chestar Barnard, etc., made
significant contributions towards the behavioural science approach.

4
IMPORTANCE OF THE BEHAVIOURAL
SCIENCE APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT

 Improved usage of teams to achieve

organizational goals.

 Emphasis on training and development of staff

 Use of innovative reward and incentive

techniques.

 Furthermore the main focus on modern

management theory led to empowering
employees via shared information.

5
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE APPROACH
1. Individual Behaviour
Individual behaviour is closely linked with the behaviour of the group to which he
belongs. The group dictates changes in his behaviour. Individuals observe those
work standards which are prescribed by the group.

2. Informal Leadership
Informal leadership, rather than formal authority of managers is more important
for setting and enforcing group standards of performance. A a leader, a manager
may be more effective and acceptable to subordinates, if he adopts the
democratic style of leadership.

3. Participation
If the subordinates are encouraged and allowed to participate in establishing
goals, there will be positive effect on their attitude towards work. If employees
are involved in planning, designing the jobs and decision-making, there will be
least resistance to changes effected in technology and work methods.

4. Motivation by Self-Control and Self-Development

Behavioural scientists maintain that by nature most people enjoy work and are
motivated by self-control and self-development. Managers should try to identity
and provide necessary conditions conducive to the proper use of human
potential. The managers attitude towards human behaviour should positive.

They should know that average man is not lazy by nature. But he is ambition.
Every man likes to work and prefers to assume responsibilities. MacGregor
maintains that employees favour self-direction and self-control. Behaviouralists
believe that in place of the concept of social man the concept of self-actualizing
man would be more appropriate to explain human motivations.

5. Informal Organization
Behaviouralists particularly Bernard, consider informer organization as an
essential part of the formal organization. Informer organization must always be
taken into account while determining managerial behaviour.

6. General Supervision Not Close One

As regards supervision of subordinates, Behaviouralists particularly Likert, are
not in favour of close supervision. They advocate general supervision, which
tends to be associated with high productivity.

6
 ADVANTAGES OF THE BEHAVIOURAL
SCIENCE APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT

Following are the main advantages of behavioural sciences

approach:

(i) Study of human behaviour most critical for managerial

success:
Despite the development of many approaches to management study,
behavioural sciences approach is unparalleled and unbeaten. It
concentrates on a study of human behaviour; which is the most critical
single factor-responsible for management success/failure.

(ii) Contribution to management:

Behavioural sciences approach has made significant contribution to
management in the fields of group dynamics, motivation,
communication and leadership.

(iii) Basis of organisational behaviour:

Behavioural sciences approach is basis of a new management
discipline-called organisational behaviour. Some of the outstanding
concepts of organisational behaviour like, informal groups, attitudes,
personality, perception, individual and group behaviour etc. are a gift
of behavioural sciences approach.

7
CRITICISMS OF THE BEHAVIOURAL
SCIENCE APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT

Despite its brilliant contributions to the theories of

management, the behavioural approach to management was
criticized on the following grounds:

(i) Over-emphasis on behavioural aspect:

Behavioural sciences approach over-emphasizes on behavioural
aspect. In fact, in management, there are many things more important
than human behaviour; which are ignored by behavioural sciences
approach.

(ii) Unpredictability of human behaviour:

Behavioural sciences approach recommends a study of human
behaviour; which is difficult to understand. Ever-changing human
psychology makes human behaviour unpredictable. Behavioural
sciences approach offers no techniques for predicting human
behaviour.

(iii) Findings not universally applicable:

Findings of behavioural sciences approach are not applicable
universally to all enterprises operating in different social, religious and
cultural backgrounds.

8
 CONCLUSION

The Behavioural science approach of management under the neo-classical

theory focuses on a soft approach to leadership focusing on employee
motivation, worker satisfaction, clear communication, paternalistic
approach to business organization.
This case of paternalism is to be reflected through sympathy and empathy.