Hawthorne Studies (Organisational Behaviour)

HAWTHORNE STUDIES The most key contribution to the human relations movement within governing bodyal behavior came out of the Hawthorne studies undertaken at westerly electric companys Hawthorne works in Chicago in between 1924 and 1932. Main researches were Elton Mayo, Dickson, Whitehead, and Rothlisberger. The researchers to begin with set out to study the relationship between productivity and animal(prenominal) working conditions. They conducted various researches in four phases with each phase attempting to answer the question raised at the previous phase.The four phases were 1. Experiments to fas disco biscuit the effects of changes in illumination on productivity Illumination experiments (1924-27) 2. Experiments to fructify the effects of changes in hours and opposite working conditions on productivity Relay assembly test path experiments (1927-28). 3. Conducting embed wide interviews to determine worker locatings and sentiments, Mass interviewing program (1928-30). 4. Determination and analysis of mixer organization at work curse wiring observation room experiments (1931-32). Illumination experiments-The experiments began in 1924 and ex exded over several years. The purpose was to interpret the relation of quality and quantity of illumination to efficiency of industrial workers. Control and experimental free radicals were established. The experimental group was presented with varying illumination intensities, while the control group worked under a constant intensity. The researches were surprised to carry out that productivity increase to roughly the same rate in both the test and control groups. It was tho in final experiment, where they rock-bottom illumination levels to 0. 0f foot candle (roughly moonlight intensity) that an appreciable decline in output occurred. The engineers concluded that illumination intensity was non directly related to group productivity, but they could not explain the behavior they had witnessed. Relay assembl y test room experiments- Relay assembly test room experiments were designed to determine the effect of changes in various job conditions on group productivity as the illumination experiments could not establish relationship between intensity of illumination and production.For this purpose, the researchers set up a relay assembly test room and two girls were selected. These girls were asked to choose four more girls as company-workers. side by side(p) ere the changes and the resultant outcomes 1. The incentive system was changed so that each girls extra pay was base on the other five rather than output of larger group. The productivity increased as compared to before. 2. cardinal five-minute rests one in morning session and other in the evening session were introduced which were increased to ten minutes.The productivity increased. 3. The rest period was reduced to five minutes but frequency was increased. The productivity decreased slightly and the girls complained that frequent rest intervals affected the rhythm of the work. 4. The number of rest pauses was reduced to two of ten minutes each, but in the morning, coffee or soup was served along with sandwich and in the evening, chomp was provided. The productivity increased. 5. Changes in working hours and workday were introduced. Productivity again increased.As each change was introduced, absenteeism decreased, morale increased and less supervision was required. Mass interviewing program During the course of experiments, about 20,000 interviews were conducted between 1928 and 1930 to determine employees attitude towards company, supervision, insurance plans, promotion and wages. Initially these interviews were conducted by means of direct questioning but later it was changed to non-directive interviewing where interviewer was asked to learn to instead of talking, arguing or advising.During the course of interviews, it was discovered that workers behavior was being influenced by group behavior. Bank wiri ng observation room experiments The concluding study at Hawthorne was significant because it corroborate that the importance of one aspect of the informal organization on worker productivity. Specifically, the researchers studied workers in the edge wiring room and found the behavioral norms set by the work group had a almighty influence over the productivity of a group. The higher the norms, the greater the productivity.The lower the norms, the lower the productivity. The power of the friction match group and the importance of the group influence on individual behavior and productivity were confined in the bank wiring study. Findings ? lendplaces are social environments and people are motivated by much more than economic self-interest. ?The girls were allowed to have a friendly relationship with their supervisor and they felt happier at work. ?They felt like part of a team when changes were discussed in advance with them. Flowing from the findings of these investigations he ca me to certain conclusions as follows Work is a group activity. oThe social world of the adult is primarily patterned about work activity. oThe charter for recognition, security and sense of belonging is more important in determining workers morale and productivity than the physical conditions under which he works. oA complaint is not necessarily an objective recital of facts it is commonly a note manifesting disturbance of an individuals status position. oThe worker is a person whose attitudes and effectiveness are conditioned by social demands from both inside and outside the work plant. Informal groups within the work plant exercise loyal social controls over the work habits and attitudes of the individual worker. oThe change from an established society in the home to an reconciling society in the work plant resulting from the use of new techniques tends continually to disrupt the social organization of a work plant and industry generally. oGroup collaboration does not occur b y accident it must(prenominal) be planned and developed. If group collaboration is achieved the human relations within a work plant may reach a cohesion which resists the disrupting effects of adaptive society.