The Hawthorne studies

The Hawthorne studies were a series of experiments conducted in the 1920s and 1930s at the Western Electric Company's Hawthorne Works factory in Chicago. The experiments aimed to understand the impact of working conditions on employee productivity and were carried out by psychologist Elton Mayo and his team. The first series of studies, known as the Illumination studies, focused on the impact of lighting on worker productivity. The results from his research let Mayo believe that attention and interest in the workers affected their productivity. The outcome of the Illumination studies led to a second series of experiments, known as the Relay Assembly Test Room Studies, which focused on the impact of social and psychological factors on worker productivity. The results of these experiments challenged the prevailing scientific management theories and showed that social and psychological factors play a critical role in determining worker productivity and satisfaction.

The Hawthorne Effect in Management

Impact of Hawthorne Studies on management theory and practice

Impact on scientific management theory. Importance of social and psychological factors