Question

The major difference between scientific management and human relations theory was that human relations theory recognized that social factors were a source of power in the workplace.

A) True
B) False
C) Partially true
D) Only in certain contexts

Answer 1

The statement is true; human relations theory differs from scientific management by recognizing social factors' impact on power dynamics in the workplace, moving beyond optimizing labor productivity to considering workers' social needs and well-being.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major difference between scientific management and human relations theory is indeed the recognition of social factors as a source of power in the workplace by the latter. Thus, the statement is A) True. Scientific management, derived from the work of Frederick Taylor, focuses on optimizing labor productivity through time and motion studies, treating the worker more like a cog in a machine. In contrast, human relations theory, illustrated by McGregor's Theory Y, acknowledges that social aspects, such as employee participation, teamwork, and consultation, greatly influence workplace productivity and worker satisfaction. The shift from Theory X to Theory Y marks a significant change of recognizing the employee as a valuable asset whose well-being contributes to the overall success of the organization.