The early development of the
function can be traced back to at least two distinct movements. One element has its origins in the late 19th
century, where organizations such as Cadburysat its
Bournville
factory recognised the
importance of looking after the welfare of the workforce, and their families. The employment of women in
factories in the United
Kingdomduring the
First World
Warlead to the introduction of
"Welfare Officers". Meanwhile, in the United
Statesthe concept of human resources
developed as a reaction to the efficiency focus of Taylorismor "scientific management" in
the early 1900s, which developed in response to the demand for ever more efficient working practices within
highly mechanised factories, such as in the Ford Motor
Company. By 1920, psychologists and
employment experts in the United States started the human
relationsmovement, which viewed workers
in terms of their psychology
and fit with companies, rather
than as interchangeable parts.
|