Everything is interconnected and interrelated in this world. On the one hand, nature demonstrates the harmony of living organisms in their variety. It is constant and exciting owing to the invariance of its constituent parts. The phenomenon of nature depicts the united entity in interaction showing perfect organization and instruments that create such a perfect concept as “nature”. Mankind, on the other hand, attempts to change something for the better involving new methods, technologies, strategies in the work process. With a flow of scientific inventions and progress, the growth of industrial production increased much. People tend to work hard to earn more money. The only thing is who works harder and how to lift the level of an ability to work? As far as I know, this problem touches upon the physical, social and mental aspects. You may guess which of them should be strengthened in industrial development, but you are sure that there were people who discovered the affirmative replies on this issue.
One of them is Elton Mayo, a man who was properly self-taught and deeply interested in the development of modern society. His industriousness and devotion to studying the social characteristics within a staff motivated him to search for the ideal model for workers’ cooperation. In one of his books “The human problems of an industrial civilization” he gives a clear appraisal of what the employee is. Contradicting with the opinions of his contemporaries he ventures to call a man “a social animal” seeking the defense of society. Mayo’s thoughts gave birth to the role of small groups within the organization. It was assumed when he was able to get acquainted with the Western Electric research. It was a great practice for him called Hawthorn Experience. Here he worked out many principles that can influence people on working more effectively. Brian R. Fry notes in his book:
Mayo asserts that if the routines of society are disrupted, society will disintegrate into a “horde of individuals” seeking only self-preservation. Mayo maintains that in a traditional society with established social routines, everyone understands economic activities and the social functions performed. The individual recognizes his or her social function and achieves adaptation when identified with that function. (Brian R. Fry 126)
This treatment of individual functions personifies the idea of obtaining by the workers clearly defined tasks to be done in collaboration. This aspect is also emphasized by the nature and structure of the organization. Mayo intends self-creativity and self-motivation to be within a staff. He recognizes the idea when people worked hand-in-hand producing different kinds of goods. The missing goods they could simply exchange. That is the fact of cooperation in groups of workers.
Though, the behavioral aspect of management is rather significant. “The texture of the small group experience, according to Mayo, will largely determine individual behavior in the organization.” (Brian R. Fry 122) Conversation in a community of workers and their motivation to work under trust relationships brings to the abolishment of the understanding of the work process as routine. Furthermore, Mayo defines the state as a means of tyranny and sees its auxiliary role to those employees whose activity impacts economical growth.
Thus, we can claim Mayo’s work in social aspects of the industrial workers and small groups of them as a perfect embodiment of how should people work effectively. His approach to this problem created a better understanding of mandatory coaching of the staff in a civilized world. By his efforts now society can figure out the role of the workers within an enterprise.
Works Cited
Fry, Brian R. Mastering Public Administration: From Max Weber to Dwight Waldo. Chatham, NJ: Chatham House Publishers, 1989.
The social problems of industrial civilization: with an appendix on the political problem, Elton Mayo, Taylor & Francis, 1975.