Mary Parker Follett

Mary Parker Follett

American social worker
Date of Birth: 03.09.1868
Country: USA

Content:
  1. Biography of Mary Parker Follett
  2. Early Life and Education
  3. Contributions to Management Theory
  4. Legacy and Influence

Biography of Mary Parker Follett

Mary Parker Follett was born on September 3, 1868, and passed away on December 18, 1933. She was an American social worker, management consultant, and pioneer in the field of organizational theory and behavior. She is also the author of numerous books, essays, articles, and speeches on democracy, human relations, political philosophy, psychology, organizational behavior, and conflict resolution. Alongside Lillian Gilbreth, Follett was one of the two great female gurus in the field of management during the early days of classical management theory.

Early Life and Education

Mary Parker Follett was born on September 3, 1868, in Massachusetts, where she spent most of her early life. In September 1885, she joined the Society to Encourage Studies at Home, founded by Anna Ticknor, a pioneer in distance learning. In 1898, Follett graduated from Radcliffe College, a women's college, but she was denied a doctoral degree at Harvard University because she was a woman.

Contributions to Management Theory

As a management theorist, Follett expanded the understanding of processes within lateral hierarchical organizations and introduced the concept of "power with knowledge." Her ideas had a significant impact on the modification of the power typology developed by her contemporary, German sociologist and economist Max Weber. Weber divided power in the history of societal development into three categories: legitimate, traditional, and charismatic.

Follett's works, including "The Speaker of the House of Representatives" in 1896, "The New State" in 1918, and "Creative Experience" in 1924, explained the holistic nature of society and advocated for the idea of integration or non-coercive power sharing. Her ideas on negotiation, power, and partnership were influential in the development of alternative dispute resolution methods and the promotion of human relations. Moreover, Follett was a pioneer in the establishment of community centers.

Legacy and Influence

Although most of Follett's works remain known only within limited circles, her ideas had a profound influence on Chester Barnard, an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Barnard emphasized the important role of "soft" factors such as communication and informal processes in organizations, drawing from Follett's not fully disclosed works and thoughts. Additionally, Follett collaborated with Australian psychologist and sociologist George Elton Mayo in accentuating the importance of these "soft" factors, ultimately giving birth to the Human Relations Movement. This movement believed that satisfying the basic needs of workers was the key to increasing labor productivity. Prominent figures who further developed this movement include Abraham Maslow, Kurt Lewin, Douglas McGregor, and Chris Argyris.

Overall, Mary Parker Follett's works laid the foundation for generating effective, progressive changes in management philosophy, style, and practice. Her ideas revolutionized and humanized the workplace for ordinary Americans.

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