Behavioral Science—Management Science: A Behavioral View

A data-based, nonpolemic approach to the integration of the study of human behavior and management science ought to be feasible. Yet, the proponents and propagators of such behavioral terms as Theory Y, open-systems, encounter groups, Motivator-Hygiene variables, the Management Grid, and others have often exhibited more management than science. In this column, we will try to put away the buzz-words and take a “Behavioral Science” perspective. By “Behavioral” we refer to any data collected from observations of human behavior, much of which is to be found in the fields of psychology, sociology, political science, and, upon occasion, that part of the field of economics which concerns itself with the real world. “Science” refers to serious attempts at objective inquiry, although controversy may exist as to satisfaction of the objectivity.