The Principle of Supportive Relationships By R Likert

The Principle of Supportive Relationships By R. Likert Presented by Marie Mc. Marrow, Doctoral Candidate, Union Institute & University.

Characteristics of Successful Managers 1 Favorable attitudes to persons & all aspects of their jobs. 2 They identify with the organization and its objectives 3 They harness major motivational forces & influence the organization. 4 They do not practice transactional leadership 5 Their attitudes model cooperative & favorable attitudes within the organization. 6 Performance goals are high.

The Principle of Supportive Relationships Ø The mission of the organization is seen by all members as genuinely important. Ø All members feel that objective are significant. Ø All members feel that their contribution is indispensable. Ø All members see their role as difficult, important and meaningful. Ø Management makes full use of its human resources only when each person in an organization is a member of one or more effective functioning work groups. Ø These groups have a high degree of loyalty, effective intervention skills & high performance goals.

How Supporting Relationships Function What does that look like ? • Research shows that groups function when they are well knit & have effective interaction skills. • • Best when individuals function as part of a highly developed work group with high performance goals. Build effective groups linked with overlapping group membership.

Supporting Relationships The ability to exert influence upwards. • The superior in one group is a subordinate in another. • Superior must have sufficient influence with superior to affect change. • Positive effect on moral, motivation, productivity & performance variable

Supportive Relationships Effective Groups

Characteristics of Effective Groups High Group Loyalty. ü Have efficient & full communication. ü Members respect each other. ü Welcomes the influence of others. ü Allow their thinking & behaviors to be influenced when warranted. ü Each group above non-supervisory level functions efficiently. ü Everyone performs their roles well at their level.

The Principle of Supportive Relationships The Linking Pin Model Ø Groups must be linked to the total organization by equally effective overlapping groups. Ø All groups must function well to maximize potential power. Ø Linking process more important at higher levels; the higher an ineffective group is, the greater the adverse effect of its failure. Ø Desirable for superiors to hold group meetings of their own subordinates and to have occasional meetings over 2 levels. Ø Groups should be bound together by overlapping functions. Ø Risky to rely on a single linking pin or process to tie organization together.

Supportive Relationships Adequate degree of Harmony between organization objectives & the needs & desires of its individual members. Ø Success = Objectives represent integration of the needs & desires of stakeholders : - Ø Ø Share owners, suppliers, consumers, employees & union. Needs are unstable & changing. Thus, objectives must change. Geographic Region Q 1 Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 United States 1254 Europe and Asia 324 324 Australia 32 32 South America 2 2 Canada 1 1 Mexico 1 1 TOTALS 1614

The Principle of Supporting Relationships Ø Ø Ø Objectives & component parts must be in harmony with the relevant needs & desires of the great majority. Goals & assignments of each member must him/her to achieve them. Reward systems must give feelings of being equitably compensated for efforts & contributions. Harmony of Theory Y & O. 4 th Qtr 9% 3 rd Qtr 10% 2 nd Qtr 23% 1 st Qtr 58%

Supportive Relationships Overlapping group form Series 1 Gives : Ø Ø a structure which offers a high level of group interaction skills. Effective performance in the processes necessary to meet this performance. Series 2 Series 3 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Supportive Relationships = Successful Outcomes.

Reference Rensis Likert is also famous for his Likert scales. Harvard Business Review(2011). One change management. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. Likert, R. (1971). “The principle of supporting relationships” in D. S. Pugh(ed). Organization Theory. NY: Penguin Books. P 279 -304.