Human Relations and Participative Management

The human relations approach to management takes one giant step away from scientific management in that the top police executive moves away from the top-down boss to a team leader role. Under this rubric, the top police administrator becomes more of a personnel facilitator/motivator. She or he finds ways to provide opportunities for personnel to realize self-actualization and to develop their full potential. Of singular importance to line personnel are promotion and matters of job security. Line and mid-level personnel get a stake in the decision-making process when allowed input as to how the organization addresses such sensitive issues as crime prevention and citizen support through community policing. Thus, the management process becomes a shared process between the top police administrator and his or her employees.