Session 2 - Historical Foundations of Management

Content

Session Instructions
To complete this session you should complete the following:
1. Watch the presentation
2. Complete Activity 2 .1 and 2.2
3. Read Chapter 4 of the text book
4. Read the tutorial questions and prepare to answer in class

Topic Overview
Frederick Taylors four principles of scientific management focused on the need to carefully
select, train and support workers for individual task performance.
Henri Fayol suggested that managers should learn what are now known as the management
functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling.
Max Weber described bureaucracy with its clear hierarchy, formal rules and well-defined jobs
as an ideal form of organisation

. The human resource approaches shifted attention towards the human factor as a key element
in organisational performance.
The historic Hawthorne Studies suggested that work behaviour is influenced by social and
psychological forces and that work performance may be improved by better human relations.
Abraham Maslows hierarchy of human needs introduced the concept of self-actualisation and
the potential for people to experience self-fulfilment in their work.
Douglas McGregor urged managers to shift away from Theory X and towards Theory Y
thinking, which views people as independent, responsible and capable of self-direction in their
work.

The availability of high-powered desktop computing provides new opportunities for
mathematical methods to be used for problem solving.
Many organisations employ staff specialists in quantitative management science and
operations research to solve problems.
Quantitative techniques in common use include various approaches to forecasting, linear
programming and simulation, among others.



Session Materials

This folder contains the resources required for this topic. It includes

An audio file of the presentation that you can download for use in your MP3 player.
Presentation slides (Presenter or Camtasia) with audio and accompanying script for you to watch.
PDF version of the presentation slides that you may print out and use to add additional notes as you watch the
presentation.
Please also read Chapter 4 of the prescribed text



Complete the following activities



Activity 2.1 Revision Quiz
Take this revision quiz after reviewing all the material for this session

Activity 2.2 Maslow Inventory
Abraham Maslow authored the Hierarchy of Needs theory, stating that human beings are
motivated by unsatisfied needs, and that certain lower needs have to be satisfied before higher
needs can be attended to. It is debatable that needs fulfillment occurs in as linear a fashion as
Maslow presents (or that Maslows needs structure is entirely accurate), but you can decide that
for yourself by taking this self assessment quiz

Tutorial Questions and Tasks


1. Why is the study of historical management theory important for a manager in today's
business environment?

2. What key ideas did classical approaches, behavioural (or human resource) approaches, and
quantitative approaches contribute to management thinking?

3. Assume that you are a manager working in a successful Australasian company. Discuss how
you would try to influence workers' motivation using the classical approach to management.
How would you try to influence workers' motivation using the human resource approach to
management?

4 . What is meant by systems thinking? What is contingency thinking? Why are both types of
thinking useful for managers and leaders in contemporary organisations?

5.Discuss the qualities that leaders should have to be successful in the 21st century.

Tutorial Answers
Tutorial Answers