Rensis Likert, (August 5, 1903, Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.— September 3, 1981, Ann Arbor, Michigan), is an American social scientist who developed scales (Likert scale) for attitude measurement and introduced the concept of participative management.
He studied economics and sociology at the University of Michigan (A.B., 1922) after spending an year in engineering. Likert studied psychology at Columbia University (Ph.D., 1932) and his thesis is on attitude measurement. He taught psychology at New York University (1930–35) before moving to Hartford, Connecticut, to become the director of research for the Life Insurance Agency Management Association. There, he began comparing and evaluating modes of supervision of high performing agencies and comparatively low performing agencies.. In 1939, Likert became a division director for the Bureau of Agricultural Economics within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1946, he moved to the University of Michigan and helped in establishing a survey research centre that was eventually named the Institute for Social Research. Likert served as its director until his retirement in 1970.
Likert also developed formal and better-structured interviewing techniques, which have since become standard survey research practices.
In the area of management, Likert developed participative management theory. It was first proposed in New Patterns of Management (1961) and was further elaborated in The Human Organization (1967), the theory posited that the modern workforce had become more knowledgeable and independent; as a result, managers who rewarded employee self-initiative and who encouraged employee contribution in business decisions would benefit from greater productivity levels.
Quotation of Likert
“The greater the loyalty of a group toward the group, the greater is the motivation among the members to achieve the goals of the group, and the greater the probability that the group will achieve its goals.”
Contributions - Books and Articles by Rensis Likert and Reviews Also
1.
Conversation... with Rensis Likert.
Academic Journal
Organizational Dynamics. Summer73, Vol. 2 Issue 1, p32-49. 18p.
2.
LIKERT SCALES: A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE.
Academic Journal
By: Edmondson, Diane R.; Edwards, Yancy D.; Boyer, Stefanie L. International Journal of Business, Marketing, & Decision Science. Fall2012, Vol. 5 Issue 2, p73-85. 13p.
3.
Likert Scales: A Regression to the Mean?
Conference
By: Edwards, Yancy D.; Edmondson, Diane R. Society for Marketing Advances Proceedings. 2011, Vol. 25 Issue 1, p157-158. 2p. ,
4.
Developing and Scaling Personality Measures: Thurstone Was Right-But So Far, Likert Was Not Wrong F.L. Oswald and K.L. Schell.
By: Oswald, Frederick L.; Schell, Kraig L. Industrial & Organizational Psychology. Dec2010, Vol. 3 Issue 4, p481-484. 4p.
5.
Increasing Utilization Through Better Management of Human Resources.
By: Likert, Rensis; Seashore, Stanley E. Harvard Business Review. Sep/Oct55, Vol. 33 Issue 5, p102-102. 1/2p.
6.
Rethinking Likert.
By: Salopek, Jennifer J. T+D. Sep2004, Vol. 58 Issue 9, p26-29. 3p. ,
7
The Likert Scale.
Workforce (10928332). Jan2002, Vol. 81 Issue 1, p40. 1/8p. , D
8.
Likert.
Bloomsbury Business Library - Business & Management Dictionary. 2007, p4386-4386. 1p. , LIKERT, Rensis
9.
From Production- and Employee- Centeredness to Systems 1-4.
By: Likert, Rensis. Journal of Management. Fall79, Vol. 5 Issue 2, p147-156. 10p. ,
10.
NEWS AND NOTES.
By: MacDonald, Lois; Scott, William G.; Riegel, John W.; Likert, Rensis; Yoder, Dale; Warren, Edgar L.; Troxell, John P.; Field, Louise. Industrial & Labor Relations Review. Jan54, Vol. 7 Issue 2, p332-340. 9p. ,
11.
Using behavioral science.
By: Likert, Rensis. Harvard Business Review. Sep/Oct79, Vol. 57 Issue 5, p204-204. 2/3p. , Database: Business Source Complete
Subjects: LETTERS to the editor; PSYCHOLOGY
12.
MAKING COST CONTROL WORK.
By: Likert, Rensis; Seashore, Stanley E. Harvard Business Review. Nov/Dec63, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p96-108. 13p. 2 Graphs. ,
13.
Motivational Approach to Management Development.
Periodical
By: Likert, Rensis. Harvard Business Review. Jul/Aug1959, Vol. 37 Issue 4, p75-82. 8p. ,
14.
MEASURING Organizational Performance.
By: Likert, Rensis. Harvard Business Review. Mar/Apr58, Vol. 36 Issue 2, p41-50. 10p. 7 Graphs. , 15.
New Patterns of Management.
Review
By: Likert, Rensis. Bloomsbury Business Library - Management Library. 2007, p69-69. 1p.
16.
Innovation and Leadership Values.
Academic Journal
By: Miles, Raymond E. California Management Review. Fall2007, Vol. 50 Issue 1, p192-201. 10p. ,
17.
Managing an Interdisciplinary Research Institute: The Institute for Social Research.
Conference
By: Likert, Rensis. Academy of Management Proceedings (00650668). 1978, p384-388. 5p.
18.
A SIMPLE AND RELIABLE METHOD OF SCORING THE THURSTONE ATTITUDE SCALES.
Academic Journal
By: LIKERT, RENSIS; ROSLOW, SYDNEY; MURPHY, GARDNER. Personnel Psychology. Autumn1993, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p689-690. 2p. ,
19.
SYSTEM 4: A RESOURCE FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
Academic Journal
By: Stenberg, Carl W.; Likert, Rensis. Public Administration Review. Nov/Dec81, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p674-678. 5p.
20.
HUMAN RESOURCE ACCOUNTING.
Academic Journal
By: Likert, Rensis; Pyle, William C. Financial Analysts Journal. Jan/Feb1971, Vol. 27 Issue 1, p75-84. 10p. 21.
Management styles and the human component.
Academic Journal
By: Likert, Rensis. Management Review. Oct77, Vol. 66 Issue 10, p23. 9p. ,
)
22.
Improving cost performance with cross-functional teams.
By: Likert, Rensis. Management Review. Mar76, Vol. 65 Issue 3, p36. 7p. ,
23.
AN IMPROVEMENT CYCLE FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT.
By: Likert, Rensis. Training & Development Journal. Jul78, Vol. 32 Issue 7, p16. 3p. ,
24.
Social Sciences Commentary: Qualities of Most Productive Managers.
By: Leffingwell, Roy J. Public Relations Quarterly. Summer80, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p25. 1p. ,
25.
New Ways of Managing Conflict.
Review
By: Weissenberg, Peter. Administrative Science Quarterly. Sep77, Vol. 22 Issue 3, p545-549. 5p. , 26.
New Ways of Managing Conflict (Book Review).
By: Triandis, Harry C. Industrial & Labor Relations Review. Apr77, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p412-413. 2p. ,
27
New Ways of Managing Conflict.
By: Gibson, James L. Academy of Management Review. Oct76, Vol. 1 Issue 4, p153-154. 2p.
28.
The Performance Review.
Harvard Business Review. Sep/Oct96, Vol. 74 Issue 5, p100-101. 2p. 29.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES.
Periodical
By: Salopek, Jennifer J.; Shank, Patti; Galagan, Pat; Bingham, Tony. T+D. Sep2004, Vol. 58 Issue 9, p1-2. 2p. ,
30.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH.
Academic Journal
By: Harding, Philip; Back, Kurt W.; Nicholls II, William L. Public Opinion Quarterly. Fall73, Vol. 37 Issue 3, p425-425. 5/6p. ,
31.
The Human Organization: Its Management and Value.
Review
By: Triandis, Harry C. Administrative Science Quarterly. Dec67, Vol. 12 Issue 3, p503-506. 4p. ,
32.
New Patterns of Management.
Review
By: Katzell, Raymond A. Administrative Science Quarterly. Sep63, Vol. 8 Issue 2, p273-275. 3p. , 33.
The Human Organization: Its Management and Value (Book Review).
Review
By: Zaleznik, Abraham. Industrial & Labor Relations Review. Jul68, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p624. 2p. , Database:
34.
New Patterns of Management (Book).
Review
By: Lodahl, Thomas M. Industrial & Labor Relations Review. Jan64, Vol. 17 Issue 2, p336-338. 3p. ,
35.
Some Applications of Behavioral Research.
Review
By: Guetzkow, Harold. Administrative Science Quarterly. Sep58, Vol. 3 Issue 2, p274-276. 3p. ,
36.
Some Applications of Behavioural Research (Book).
Review
By: Arensberg, Conrad. Industrial & Labor Relations Review. Jan59, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p318-320. 3p. ,
37.
New Ways of Managing Conflict.
Review
By: Litzinger, William D. Personnel Psychology. Winter76, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p637-639. 3p. ,
38.
New Ways of Managing Conflict (Book).
Review
By: Sherwood, John J.; Manning, Michael R. Journal of Business. Oct77, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p544-545. 2p. ,
39.
A Hidden Issue in Minority Employment.
By: Goodman, Richard Alan. California Management Review. Summer69, Vol. 11 Issue 4, p27-30. 4p. ,
40.
6. COSTS AND EFFICIENCY.
By: Rathmell, J.M. Journal of Marketing. Oct56, Vol. 21 Issue 2, p205-205. 1/2p. ,
41.
From the Thoughtful Businessman.
Harvard Business Review. Nov/Dec59, Vol. 37 Issue 6, p15-181. 7p. ,
42.
New Ways of Managing Conflict (Book).
Review
Public Personnel Management. Jan/Feb77, Vol. 6 Issue 1, p62. 2p. ,
43.
New Patterns of Management (Book).
Review
By: Ellsworth, T.D. Journal of Retailing. Spring64, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p45. 1/3p. ,
44.
The Human Organization: Its Management and Value.
Review
By: Caplan, Edwin H.; Bruns Jr., William J. Accounting Review. Apr68, Vol. 43 Issue 2, p404-405. 2p. ,
45.
The Human Organization (Book).
Review
By: Magill, Samuel B. Training & Development Journal. Jan1968, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p62. 3/4p. ,
46.
The Human Organization: Its management and Value (Book).
Review
By: Porter, Lyman W. Personnel Psychology. Spring68, Vol. 21 Issue 1, p101-106. 6p. ,
47.
The Human Organization: Its Management and Value.
Review
By: Ference, Thomas P. Management Science. Oct67, Vol. 14 Issue 2, pB-130-B-130. 2p. ,
48.
THE HUMAN ORGANIZATION: Its Management and Value (Book).
Review
Public Relations Quarterly. Winter69, Vol. 13 Issue 4, p35. 1/3p. ,
49.
The Human Organization (Book).
Review
By: Plantz, Don V. Monthly Labor Review. Feb68, Vol. 91 Issue 2, p82. 2p. ,
50.
New patterns of management.
Review
By: Leavitt, Harold J. Management Science. Oct62, Vol. 9 Issue 1, p162-164. 3p. ,
