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Hawthorne Effect
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Managing and optimizing work productivity from a 'humane' rather than pure 'production machine' perspective. Explanation of the Hawthorne Effect of Mayo. ('32)Contributed by: Eric Goh See Khai |
What is the Hawthorne Effect? DescriptionThe Hawthorne experiments were a series of studies on the productivity
of workers, wherein various conditions were manipulated (pay, light levels,
humidity, rest breaks, etc.). Surprisingly, each change resulted in a productivity
rising, including eventually a return to the original conditions. This was
true of each of the individual workers as well as of the group mean. Thus these experiments were among the first indications that any productivity model must factor in intangible attributes such as human behavior.
It's important to understand two more concepts to understand the Hawthorne
Effect properly and accurately. The Yerkes-Dockson Law and the Law
of Diminishing Marginal Utility. While motivation does increase productivity
up to a certain point, any more motivation (example salary) would not be effective
due to saturation of utility. Thus, one must not rely solely on the Hawthorne
model to raise productivity but rather complement it skillfully with other
motivation attributes, like job redesign, job enlargement, and raising production
capability via means such as learning organization culture. Related to the Hawthorne effects are:
The Hawthorne Experiments. HistoryThe Hawthorne Effects are a series of experiments conducted from 1924 to 1933, and famously analyzed by Professor Elton Mayo from 1927 to 1932. The term Hawthorne was coined as the site for the experimental studies took place at Western Electric Hawthorne Work, Chicago. The experiments were primarily started with the intention of studying the relationship between productivity and work conditions vis-à-vis examining the physical and environmental influences of the workplace (e.g. brightness of lights, humidity) and then moved on to the psychological aspects (e.g. breaks, group pressure, working hours, managerial leadership).
Calculation of the Hawthorne Effect. FormulaThere is no definitive quantitative formula as the important attributes for working conditions varied greatly from place to place and industry to industry. However, a suggested generic approach that transcends all industries is to apply the Yorkes-Dockson Law, that there is an optimal amount of motivation for the maximum productivity. Any lesser motivation or more would result in a drop of productivity. Thus: y = -ax2 + bx + c. (y= productivity, x= working environment attributes).
Usage of the Hawthorne Experiments. Applications
Steps in the Hawthorne Effect. Process
Strengths of the Hawthorne Experiments. Benefits
Limitations of the Hawthorne Effect. Disadvantages
Assumptions of the Hawthorne Effect. Conditions
Book: Bailey - Human Performance Engineering -
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Compare with Hawthorne Effect: Hierarchy of Needs | Two Factor Theory | Theory of Needs | Theory X Theory Y | ERG Theory | Expectancy Theory | Path-Goal Theory | Attribution Theory
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