The fourth phase in the evolution of management theory, the modern movement, began in the early 1950s and continues today. The modern movement consists of two approaches: the quantitative approach and the nonquantitative approach. The quantitative approach is also known as the operations approach, and the nonquantitafive approach is frequently called the behavioral sciences approach.

The operations approach is concerned primarily with making decisions, especially decisions about which operations should be undertaken and about how they should be carried out.

The behavioral sciences approach is the scientific study of observable and verifiable human behavior. The effects of behavioral sciences can be observed at the individual, group, and organizational levels. The individual level is concerned with such factors as motivation, attitudes, and personality. The group level involves interact,ions, interrelationships, group norms, and group leadership. The organizational level is concerned with such areas as bureaucracy and the effect of the system's design on employee behavior.

Other comparisons can be made between the behavioral sciences approach and the operations approach. The behavioral sciences approach is concerned with the manner in which decisions are made, whereas the operations approach is concerned with the way they ought to be made. The operations approach involves mathematics, computer science, and statistical applications whereas the behavioral sciences approach uses psychology, sociology, and anthropology as its base.

Mini Case:

You are the administrative assistant to Mary Chial, the administrative office manager at Baskin Company. She is a frequent guest speaker at a variety of local professional associations in the Chicago area. Ms. Chial has been asked to address the members of a local administrative management, group on the topic of the modern movement, of management, theory. Because she spent all last week attending a seminar in New York City, she has run out of time to research her topic.

As her assistant, you have been asked to do her research for her. She has asked specifically that you prepare for her a written list of the differences between the operations approach and the behavioral sciences approach.