The

Hawthorne
Studies
(1924-1932)
The Hawthorne studies were conducted on workers at the Hawthorne plant of the Western Electric
Company by Elton Mayo and Fritz Roethlisberger

Their aim was to study the relationship between physical factors and production. But they ended up proving
the relationship between human social factors and production

The Hawthorne studies were designed to find ways to increase worker productivity.

Their findings are relevant even today. These studies are considered the most important event in the history
of O.B

 RELAY ASSEMBLY TEST ROOM
6 workers were isolated and put in special test
rooms.
They were given various amount of Breaks,
Workdays and Work Weeks to improve
productivity
Regularly monitored
This increased the productivity
The researchers could not establish co relation
between working hours, incentive etc. with
production
 EMPLOYEE ATTITUDES, INTERPERSONAL
RELATIONS, AND GROUP PROCESS
Over 21,000 employees were interviewed
regarding what could be satisfying to workers and
not
They found out that.
A complaint is not an objective statement rather
the feelings of the individual
Group and social pressures have considerable
influence on individuals.
Bank Wiring Observation Room Experiment
The job is attaching wires to switches
An observation room was set up to observe 14
workmen which included some weak workmen.
The researchers expected that the group will
compensate for the weak workmen.
 But the group reduced the output to the level of
the weak workmen in order to protect them
Therefore they produced less.
Illumination Experiment
Relationship between lighting and productivity was
studied.
In the experimental room the lighting was changed
constantly.
The production only suffered when the lightning
became so low, but under all other lightning
conditions the production went on increasing even in
the standard lightning room
The researchers could not establish any relationship
between lightning and productivity
 “ The Hawthorne Effect “
 
◦ participants in behavioral studies change their behavior or performance in response to
being observed by the individual conducting the study.

◦ They concluded that increased levels of productivity resulted from increased attention,
rather than changes in the work environment.

◦ This shows that if you paid workers productivity increased.