Hawthorne Effect

Strategic Human Resource Managment

Submitted to
Dr. Hamid Hassan

Submitted by
Abdur Rehman Tariq

15-5289

Hawthorne Studies
Hawthorne Studies was conducted with the series of experiment during the time span of eight
years from 1924 to 1932. These experiments were conducted in Western Electric Plant.

Illumination Study
During the phase of illumination study, the effect of worker productivity was checked with
different light levels. These test were divided into two groups

Light Stays same in control group

Light level Varied in the test group

There was increase in the productivity in the both case, than what they did was to apply the
experiments on reverse i.e. to lower the level of light. Still there was increase in the productivity.
The Productivity Stopped when the light reaches as low as the moon light level.

Human Relation Implication

Hawthorne effect states that worker attitude toward managers affect the level of worker
performance. It further states that supervisor be behaviorally trained to manage subordinates in
ways that elicit their corporation and increase their productivity.
This experiments summaries that technical aspect is only one part of productivity. It also
includes behavior of managers and worker which plays an important part in the explaining the
level of performance.
Hawthorne effect demonstrated the importance of understanding, how the feeling, thoughts, and
behavior of work-group members and managers affect performance.

Four General Conclusion

The aptitudes of individuals are imperfect predictors of job performance. Although

they give some indication of the physical and mental potential of the individual, the

amount produced is strongly influenced by social factors.

Informal organization affects productivity. The Hawthorne researchers discovered a
group life among the workers. The studies also showed that the relations that

supervisors develop with workers tend to influence the manner in which the workers

carry out directives.

Work-group norms affect productivity. The Hawthorne researchers were not the first to
recognize that work groups tend to arrive at norms of what is a fair day's work; however,

they provided the best systematic description and interpretation of this phenomenon.
The workplace is a social system. The Hawthorne researchers came to view the
workplace as a social system made up of interdependent parts.