People are not cogs

People just want to be treated like people. Even in production-based work environments, people are not cogs. Thinking that people are just cogs is unimaginative and the fast-track to business failure (not to mention depression). Why do managers see people as cogs? Here are some of my thoughts:

• 1. They don't understand their business enough to design processes for efficiency.
• 2. Not enough leadership is provided to have them act any other way
• 3. Manager's self-importance (this often has deep roots)

I think that this HBR article does a great job of elaborating my comments...