Explain the development of the human relations school of thought and its relevance in the present-day context.

 Modern management thought has evolved over the years from contribution from various disciplines such as social psychology, behavioural science, operational research and systems theory; technology and economics. This has given rise to different approaches to the study of management science. These approaches include empirical approach; interpersonal and group behaviour approach; co-operative, social and socio-technical systems approach, systems approach, decision theory and operational research approach; contingency or situational approach, managerial roles approach and operational approach. The purpose of studying various schools of management thought is to enable you to recognized and appreciate how developments in the field of management could contribute to current practices. An examination of these past and present approaches can help to discover the strengths and weaknesses of current managerial practices and finally enable you, as a potential manager of an information centre, to choose appropriate management styles. "During the brief history of management as a discipline, a number of more or less separate schools of management thought have emerged, some broad, some narrow in scope, and some quite specialized. Each sees management from its own viewpoint; none is comprehensive" (Dejon, 1978). These viewpoints can provide several perspectives. Firstly, people are at the helm of affairs and people are of prime importance, in all thinking about management. There have been different views about the nature of people's impact on organisations.

Secondly, there were some historical settings in which certain ideas and approaches developed. Similar conditions may or may not be present today. Thirdly, there are many theories and approaches to management and each has some utility and some limitations. Hence, there is no single `best' theory of management. Today's management is both a reflection of and a reaction to past management theories.

During the history of management a number of more or less separate schools of management thought have emerged, and each sees management from its own has classified the management theories into the following six groups: 

i) The management process school

ii) The empirical school

iii) The human behavioural school

iv) The social systems school

v) The decision theory school

vi) The mathematical school. 

Management theories into three broad groups.

i) Classical management theory.

ii) Neoclassical management theory

iii) Modern management theory

Under each group a few schools of thought are identified. These three groups of schools of management thought, are currently in vogue and found adequate for the purpose. 

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