Chapter 13 The Hawthorne StudiesHawthorne StudiesThe
Chapter 13: The Hawthorne Studies
Hawthorne Studies
“The Social Person” was not invented by these studies, but was brought to a wider recognition by those who interpreted the results. The studies have been widely publicized, misinterpreted, praised, and criticized over the many years since the event. The studies continue to generate articles and presentations.
Hawthorne Plant History & Time Line
1905: Western Electric moved to Cicero, Illinois
1914: Absorbed operations from New York & Chicago
1924-1933: Hawthorne Studies
1932-1938: Harvard researchers continued research
1940: Peak production with 42,000 workers employed
1958: Western Electric Statistical Quality Control Handbook
Illumination Studies: 1924-1927
The original research issue was the effect of workplace illumination on worker productivity. Those who came initially to Hawthorne were electrical engineers from MIT. Another attempt was made with a control group and a variable group, placed in separate buildings. In this case output went up in both groups.
The illumination research was abandoned in 1927. One of the researchers, Charles E. Snow of MIT, concluded there were too many variables and the “psychology of the human individual” could have been the most important one.
The Relay Assembly Test Room 1927-1933
George Pennock had an excellent insight: Supervision was a better explanation. The participants were volunteers, knew the objectives of the study, and were observed for a short period in their regular department prior to going to a separate room with their observer.
After eight months into the experiment, two of the original participants were replaced.
A number of changes were introduced
The incentive payment plan was changed such that the relay assembly group was rewarded on their output rather than on the output of the larger relay assembly department. Secondly, Participants were told they could make more money under this arrangement. Lastly, Participants were allowed to talk to each other
Hawthorne Studies
“The Social Person” was not invented by these studies, but was brought to a wider recognition by those who interpreted the results. The studies have been widely publicized, misinterpreted, praised, and criticized over the many years since the event. The studies continue to generate articles and presentations.
Hawthorne Plant History & Time Line
1905: Western Electric moved to Cicero, Illinois
1914: Absorbed operations from New York & Chicago
1924-1933: Hawthorne Studies
1932-1938: Harvard researchers continued research
1940: Peak production with 42,000 workers employed
1958: Western Electric Statistical Quality Control Handbook
Illumination Studies: 1924-1927
The original research issue was the effect of workplace illumination on worker productivity. Those who came initially to Hawthorne were electrical engineers from MIT. Another attempt was made with a control group and a variable group, placed in separate buildings. In this case output went up in both groups.
The illumination research was abandoned in 1927. One of the researchers, Charles E. Snow of MIT, concluded there were too many variables and the “psychology of the human individual” could have been the most important one.
The Relay Assembly Test Room 1927-1933
George Pennock had an excellent insight: Supervision was a better explanation. The participants were volunteers, knew the objectives of the study, and were observed for a short period in their regular department prior to going to a separate room with their observer.
After eight months into the experiment, two of the original participants were replaced.
A number of changes were introduced
The incentive payment plan was changed such that the relay assembly group was rewarded on their output rather than on the output of the larger relay assembly department. Secondly, Participants were told they could make more money under this arrangement. Lastly, Participants were allowed to talk to each other