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Human Relations Theories : Scientific Management And Taylorism And Human Relation Theories

Satisfactory Essays

Introduction The never-ending discussion about the superiority of one out of two different managerial approaches – Scientific Management and Taylorism and Human Relation Theories - took its place since the beginning of 20th century. One of the most well-known Human Relations Theories is on employee empowerment. However, pinning down an actual definition on term of empowerment due to its wide scope is highly problematic (Woodside, Martin; 2007). Some authors view it as giving authority and decision-making power (Ettorre, 1997; Brymer, 1991; Bowen and Lawler, 1992). Budrett (1996) suggests that empowerment includes increased responsibility, accountability and authority. Stewart (1994) describes it as an ‘effective use of a manager’s authority’. Wilkinson (1998) defines it as a task-based employee involvement and attitudinal change. Despite some successful empowerment implementation cases growing evidence suggests that empowerment programs ‘often fail to meet the expectations’ of both employees and managers (Hardy, Leiba-O 'Sullivan; 1998). The controversies of empowerment, theoretical approaches, its advantages and disadvantages as well as empowerment schemes in theory and practice will be discussed in this essay.

Theoretical Approaches

In order to critically analyse the possible implications, outcomes and controversies of empowerment the main theoretical approaches of empowerment must be considered. The two main approaches according to Bailey (2009) are structural and

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