CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Human Relations
CHAPTER PREVIEW
After studying this chapter, students should be able to:
1. Explain the nature, purpose, and importance of human relations.
2. Identify major developments in the workplace that have given new importance to human relations.
3. Identify major forces influencing human behavior at work.
4. Review the historical development of the human relations movement.
5. Identify seven major themes that serve as the foundation for effective human relations.
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE
This introductory chapter focuses on the nature of human relations, its development, and its importance
to the achievement of individual and organizational goals. It gives students an overview of what human
relations is and provides a general framework for studying all types of interactions among people—
their conflicts, cooperative efforts, and group relationships. A major highlight of Chapter 1 is a
discussion of several developments in the workplace that have given new importance to human
relations. Early in the chapter we introduce the “total person” concept, which emphasizes that such
human traits as physical fitness, self-concept, emotional control, self-awareness, and values orientation
are interdependent. Many organizations are beginning to recognize that if the whole person can be
improved, significant benefits accrue to the firm. Then we introduce the six major forces influencing
human behavior at work. We believe that this material helps the student appreciate the complex nature
of human behavior in a work setting. A brief look at the historical development of the human relations
movement in the United States follows. Finally, we introduce the seven basic themes that emerge from
a study of human relations. These themes reflect the current concern in human relations with the twin
goals of personal growth and development and the achievement of organizational objectives.
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
I. Technical Skills Aren’t Enough
A. Need for both technical skills and interpersonal skills (personal qualities, thinking skills)
B. Small business career opportunities
C. Human relations defined
D. Major developments that give new importance to human relations
1. Labor market dislocation
2. Changing work patterns
3. Service orientation
4. Workplace incivility
5. Workplace teams
6. Diversity
E. The challenge of human relations
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F. The influence of the behavioral sciences
G. Human relations and the “total person”
H. The need for a supportive environment
II. The Forces Influencing Behavior at Work
A. Organizational culture
B. Supervisory-management influence
C. Work group influence
D. Job influence
E. Personal characteristics of the worker
F. Family influence
III. The Development of the Human Relations Movement
A. The impact of the Industrial Revolution
B. Taylor’s scientific management
C. Mayo’s Hawthorne studies
D. From the Great Depression to today
IV. Major Themes in Human Relations
A. Communication
B. Self-awareness
C. Self-acceptance
D. Motivation
E. Trust
F. Self-disclosure
G. Conflict resolution
V. Human Relations: Benefits to You
CAREER INSIGHT EXERCISE
Since the job market has so much uncertainty, students will benefit by defining their career goals,
studying their career options, and assessing their skills.
TRY YOUR HAND EXERCISES
1. The goal of this learning exercise is to increase student awareness of how important it is to take
full responsibility for one’s life. Answers will vary.
2. The classroom discussion generated by items “a” and “b” will help students develop a personal
understanding of the total person concept.
3. Completing this exercise will allow students to learn about the organizational culture and recent
activities of two businesses known for total person development among their employees while
practicing online research skills and becoming familiar with several reliable resources.
CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE
This sentence completion exercise encourages students to reflect on selected major themes of human
relations. Self-examination can be a powerful vehicle for self-discovery and personal growth.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
Interpersonal skills are very important in today’s job market. This learning activity gives students an
opportunity to inventory their current attitudes toward basic human relations principles and prepare a
written plan for improving their interpersonal skills in a chosen area.
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YOU PLAY THE ROLE EXERCISE
This role-play exercise duplicates a typical interview with a career counselor. Students need to be well
prepared to answer the three questions listed in the conclusion of the role-play instructions.
CASE QUESTIONS
BELOW THE SURFACE: Achieving Personal Growth
1. Students can reflect on how well positioned they are to improve their emotional intelligence and
discuss ways to increase their readiness or capacity to improve.
2. Students can identify any negative thinking patterns they routinely engage in and devise strategies
to counteract or reverse these patterns.
CLOSING CASE: In Search of Work/Life Balance
1. Students can discuss the economic benefits that justify family-friendly services.
2. Encourage students to openly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of work/life programs that
focus on employees with children.
ADDITIONAL APPLICATION EXERCISES
1. Think about the most successful job or position you ever had (paid or volunteer). Identify the
components that made your job successful and share them with your group members. Have
someone write down all the ingredients and be ready to share your group’s list when asked by
your instructor.
Note to the Instructor: Divide the class into groups of three or four people each. Allow the groups
to determine their own definition of “successful experience.” After ten or fifteen minutes, ask
someone from each group to read the group’s list aloud. Write all of the ingredients on the board
or flipchart. Then check off those ingredients the students identify as having to do with people.
The results will generally show that human relations can make the difference between a successful
and a miserable work experience.
Option: After students have completed their lists for a successful experience, have them make a
similar list for an “unsuccessful” experience. Check off the “people” ingredients. The same
conclusion should hold true: People can often destroy a job experience. The importance of human
relations should become very apparent.
2. Look through business journals or perform a Google search for articles on people problems in the
workplace. Identify the articles that deal with people problems in business and list them under the
seven themes of human relations. What types of problems seem to turn up most often?
3. Talk with as many businesspeople as possible during the next week. Ask them which poses the
bigger challenge in their business career: people problems or technical problems. If time allows,
discuss the problems with them in detail and record their responses in a journal. Share the
information you have gathered with fellow class members.
4. Divide the class into groups of three or four people each. Give group members a copy of “21st
Century Work Force” (below), and ask them to reflect on the implications of this information.
Give the group ten to fifteen minutes to answer the following questions:
a. What are the implications for today’s college students?
b. What are the implications for students who are studying human relations?
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21st Century Work Force
• Many workers are losing their jobs due to downsizing, mergers, and business closings. These
layoffs will occur during good and bad economic times.
• People are job-switching and career-switching more frequently than in the past.
• The pace of change has increased dramatically. Events leading to dramatic change in the
workplace include the shift from domestic to global competition; the shift from manufacturing to
service-dominated economics; and the demographic transformation of the work force.