Review of Human relations in industry

Abstract

Reviews the book, Human relations in industry by Burleigh B. Gardner (1945). The author, who was for five years in charge of employee relations at Western Electric's Hawthorne Plant, states in his preface that his purpose is "a systematic presentation of the human structure of industry." The book fulfills this purpose. It is a good sociological description of the industrial organization. The structure is logically broken down in terms of line and staff, functional divisions, hierarchical levels, status, sex, age and class differences. These are well described and illustrated with case material. Throughout the book one gets glimmerings of light concerning minute and specific problems. But the big and important problems of organized human effort are left in impenetrable fog. Certainly this book is a useful adjunct to the body of descriptive material about industry. Nevertheless, considering the breadth of experience and knowledge of the author, I cannot but profess some measure of disappointment in it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)