Motivation theory 2:

Mayo’s Human relations theory

The human relation school of thought:

- Mayo’s research took place on workers
on a factory in Hawthorne.
- his research on what motivates
workers came up with some interesting
findings.
- he concluded that when workers are
given better working conditions and
better pay it has very little to no
increase in long term productivity
- instead workers are motivated by the
following factors
- when seniors or managers take
interest in their work. (We all love a bit
of attention, don’t we?)
- when workers can participate in
team work (being part of a team
sometimes means a lot)
- when workers are given some level
of freedom over their working lives.
- hence his theory was coined as human
relations theory, because unlike Taylor,
Mayo could see the human side of the
workers.
Some criticisms:
- even though Mayo’s theory
contributed the very idea of team
work, there are few criticisms that
needed to be addressed
- his research was conducted on
a small number of workers in one
factory/plant. It was not a wide
spread research.
- just like Taylor said money
motivates all, somewhere, Mayo
also tend to justify that team work
motivates all.
Contribution of Mayo’s theory in the
business world:
- Form Mayo’s experiment, it was
apparent that group relationships,
group morale and the sense of worth
experienced by workers led to
motivation.
-thus various changes were brought
about by business owners:
- Mayo’s research findings led to
many businesses developing a
personnel department (the upgraded
version of which is known as Human
Resource Department

- Team work and participation was
encouraged. (The most important
finding of Mayo)
- social gatherings, sporting
facilities, work outings and trips
started to be incorporated in offices.
Elton Mayo
The manager who follows Mayo’s
theory to motivate workers:
- would try to arrange work in such
a way so that team work can be
promoted.
- might allow workers to take break
in-bet ween work according to
workers convenience.
- might arrange frequent social
gatherings for the work.