The human relations movement initially espoused a dairy farm view of management, meaning that contented cows give more milk, and satisfied workers will produce more work.

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The human relations movement did indeed espouse a view that emphasized the importance of treating workers well in order to increase productivity, which is often summarized as the idea that "happy workers are productive workers." This approach rejected the more authoritarian or mechanical models of management that viewed workers as cogs in a machine or simply as factors of production. Rather, it emphasized the social, psychological, and emotional needs of workers, recognizing that they were human beings with unique personalities, desires, and motivations. The dairy farm analogy is often used to illustrate this idea, as it suggests that good management involves creating an environment in which workers feel valued, supported, and respected, much like a farmer might treat his cows with care and attention in order to maximize their milk production.

The Human Relations Movement Initially Espoused a Dairy Farm View