This essay will discuss and critically evaluate Mary Parker Follett’s belief that “it was the manager’s job to help people in organisations cooperate with one another and achieve an integration of interests” (Schermerhorn, Davidson, Poole, Woods, Simon, & McBarron, 2014, p. 39) and also explore whether Frederick Taylor and Henri Fayol would agree with Follett, particularly in the management of modern day Australian organisations.
Who Are Managers And What Do They Do?
According to Schermerhorn et al. (2014) managers are responsible for and support the work of others. That is, they have the crucial responsibility to guide and assist other employees or team members to achieve high performance to complete specific tasks.
Managers …show more content…
It focuses on the efficiency, productivity, and output of employees as well as of the organisation as a whole. These theories guided early managers to better organise their businesses to increase productivity. There are three major classical approaches to management: administrative principles, scientific management and bureaucratic organisation. These approaches assume that people act in a rational manner that is driven mainly by economic concern (Schermerhorn et al. 2014, p.36). That is, people will do whatever is necessary to achieve the greatest personal and financial …show more content…
She studied at university but was denied her degree because she was a woman (Mary Parker Follett - Management Gurus:, 2015). She then worked as a social worker for 25 years and founded social community centres in and around Boston. Due to her remarkable work, education and observations in her profession she became a writer and speaker. She then became an authority to whom local and national organizations referred to for advice (Parker & Ritson, 2005, p.