Likert’s participative management & communication implications of human behavior school Madeline McGarey

About me Junior Organizational Communication Major After graduating I would like to be involved in event planning Course Objectives: Enhance my knowledge of Organizational Communication Develop my speaking skills

overview Who is Rensis Likert? Participate Management What is it? How to achieve participative management Linking Pin Function Human Behavior Perspective How it’s used in Contemporary Organizations

Rensis Likert 1903-1981 Professor of Sociology and Psychology Director of the Institute of Social Research at the University of Michigan Developed the Participative Management Theory

Participative Management Theory of employee-centered management based on effectively functioning groups linked together structurally through the organization Management process should depend on participative groups formed to have overlapping individuals among groups Involves increased participation at all levels of an organization Rejects many of the assumptions of the Scientific Management

Participative Management Active participation Free-flow of communication in all directions Increased motivation Promotes creativity Employees are both senders and receivers Employees are deciding where they want to be in their organization

Participative Management In order to have effective Participative Management: Be sure that members have effective leadership and membership skills to increase easy interaction among the organization The groups involved should have a comfortable working relationship to ensure the free-flow of communication Those involved must be loyal to the organization and to each other so there is a mutual feeling of trust all around Should perform in the “linking pin” function and keep the goals from their group in line with the other groups goals

Linking Pin Function

human behavior perspective Management is supposed to trust employees so that they feel comfortable to freely discuss information with their supervisors Peer-group interaction is a positive influence for productivity Communication between all levels is expected to be extensive and friendly

Contemporary organizations Committees, project teams and work units Training for management and supervisors helps them to develop their interpersonal communication skills New employees go through orientation so they make an easy transition and are able to communicate easily with their new employees Awards are given to employees for their involvement in the organization