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Elton Mayo’s team conducted a number of experiments involving six
female workers. These experiments are often referred to as the Hawthorne
experiments or Hawthorne studies as they took place at The Hawthorne Works
of the Western Electric Company in Chicago.
Hawthorne Experiment Details
Over the course of five years, Mayo’s team altered the female worker’s
working conditions and monitored how the change in working conditions affected
the workers morale and productivity. The changes in working conditions
included changes in working hours, rest brakes, lighting, humidity, and
temperature. The changes were explained to the workers prior to implementation.
Hawthorne Experiment Results
At the end of the five year period, the female worker’s working
conditions, reverted back to the conditions before the experiment began.
Unexpectedly the workers morale and productivity rose to levels higher
than before and during the experiments. The combination of results during and after the experiment (ie the increase
in the workers productivity when they were returned to their original
working conditions) led Mayo to conclude that workers were motivated by
psychological conditions more than physical working condition.
Hawthorne Experiment Conclusions
After analysing the results from the Hawthorne experiments Mayo concluded that workers were motivated by more than self interest and the following had an impact too:
There is an unwritten understanding between the worker and employer
regarding what is expected from them; Mayo called this the psychological
Interest in Workers
A worker’s motivation can be increased by showing an interest
in them. Mayo classified studying the workers (through the experiments)
as showing an interest in the workers.
Work is a Group Activity
Work is a group activity, team work can increase a worker’s
motivation as it allows people to form strong working relationships
and increases trust between the workers. Work groups are created formally
by the employer but also occur informally. Both informal and formal
groups should be used to increase productivity as informal groups influence
the worker’s habits and attitudes.
Social Aspect of Work
Workers are motivated by the social aspect of work, as demonstrated
by the female workers socialising during and outside work and the subsequent
increase in motivation.
Workers are motivated by recognition, security and a sense of belonging.
The communication between workers and management influences workers’ morale and productivity. Workers are motivated through a good working
relationship with management.
The traditional view of how to motivate employees is that you offer monetary rewards (pay increases, bonuses etc) for work completion. However the Hawthorne experiments may suggest that motivation is more complicated than that. Advocates of the "Hawthorne Effect" will state that the Hawthorne experiment results show that motivation can be improved through improving working relationships and social interraction.