What approach focuses on informal structures within organizations?

The human relations approach emphasizes the significance of informal structures and relationships within organizations. This perspective recognizes that social interactions, communication styles, and interpersonal relationships can greatly influence employee satisfaction and productivity. By focusing on how workers connect with each other on interpersonal levels, the human relations approach seeks to improve employee morale and foster a cooperative work environment, which can lead to better organizational outcomes.

In contrast, the classical management approach primarily concentrates on formal organizational structures and processes, prioritizing efficiency and productivity through clear hierarchies and standardized procedures. Systems theory provides a broader view, looking at the organization as part of a larger system that interacts with various external factors, without necessarily focusing on informal relations. The behavioral science approach integrates insights from psychology and sociology to understand behavior in the workplace but does not specifically emphasize informal structures in the same way the human relations approach does. Through its focus on the informal dynamics among employees, the human relations approach stands out as the most aligned with the question inquiring about informal structures within organizations.