Which of the following schools of thought of management is NOT referred to as the 'Classical' school?

Maslow's Theory of Hierarchy of Needs

The correct answer is option 4- Maslow's Theory of Hierarchy of Needs.

Maslow's Theory of Hierarchy of Needs is a theory of motivation not a classical thought of management.

Abraham Maslow, a well-known psychologist in a classic paper published in 1943, outlined the elements of an overall theory of motivation. His theory was based on human needs. He felt that within every human being, there exists a hierarchy of five needs. These are Basic Physiological Needs, Safety/Security Needs, Affiliation/Belonging Needs, Esteem Needs, Self Actualisation Needs.

CLASSICAL MANAGEMENT THEORY- Rational economic view, scientific management, administrative principles, and bureaucratic organisation characterise this phase. While the rational economic view assumed that people are motivated by economic gains primarily; scientific management of F.W. Taylor and others emphasised one best way of production etc; administrative theorists personified by Henri Fayol etc looked at the best way to combine jobs and people into an efficient organisation; bureaucratic organisation theorists led by Max Weber looked at ways to eliminate managerial inconsistencies due to abuse of power which contributed to ineffectiveness. This was the era of the industrial revolution and factory system of production. Large scale production would not have been possible without adherence to the principles governing organising production based on division of labour and specialisation, relationship between man and the machine, managing people and so on.