The history of human resources
By Simon Young,
Ever feel like a cog in a machine? Thank the pharoahs
3000–2500 BC
The Egyptian pyramids are built using slaves. Labour is cheap and labour relations are relatively straightforward compared with the engineering challenges
∼512 BC
Sun Tzu writes The Art of War, unaware that it will be a 21st-century management classic
1500s
Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince offers management advice to people for whom the end justifies the means
1776
The father of economics, Adam Smith, publishes The Wealth of Nations, which introduces the idea of the division of labour
early 1800s
The Industrial Revolution transforms the world of work. The creation of the factory leads to unprecedented challenges such as large flows of material, people and information. The role of the manager is born
late 1800s/early 1900s
The science of psychology is born, and with it the science of management. F W Taylor (1856–1915) models Scientific Management on machinery. Jobs are also broken into their smallest component, creating the factory assembly line model. Productivity increases fourfold
1923–1933
A series of studies is carried out to find the relationship between work environment and productivity. To their surprise, the researchers discover that an organisation is a social system
1930s
Max Weber develops his Bureaucratic Management Theory, dividing organisations up into hierarchies and establishing strong lines of authority and control. Weber recommends detailed standard operating procedures for all routine tasks
1940s–1970s
The Human Relations movement attempts to put more focus on individuals and their ability to contribute to decision-making. The HR department is born.
Peter Drucker begins his management consulting career. Throughout his life he will have a profound influence on the profession of management.
During World War II, systems analysis brings together the disciplines of mathematics, statistics, engineering and other related fields to solve human relations problems. Management Science focuses on an interrelated and interdependent set of elements functioning as a whole
1990s
Books like Reengineering the Corporation, The Fifth Discipline, Good to Great and Free Agent Nation deconstruct the assumptions of Scientific Management and Management Science. Recognising we’re in a post-industrial age, consultants start looking for the best new way to work. New terms start to be heard such as work/life balance, employee engagement and empowerment, organic organisations, stewardship and servant leadership, and workplace diversity. Employers expect productivity gains in return
Late 2007
A Families Commission survey shows a third of New Zealanders work more than 40 hours a week, with no extra pay for overtime. Meanwhile, productivity has gone down since 2000. What was that about work/life balance again?
Comments
Sandra
People spend more time at work than with their families. That tells you how important the social relationships are in professional working situations. You can't sweep that under the rug. It can be enhanced to nurture the business.
Julie
Hi… I'm sure Ramses didn't bother with terminology. He called a slave a slave, then :-)
But I'm desperately trying ot find who coined the phrase “human resources”. Any idea? I'd be most grateful.
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