The Hawthorne Studies (Elton Mayo)
to determine the effects of the work environment on employee productivity
1st experiment: productivity increased for both the experimental and control groups after lighting was varied in the workplace
2nd experiment: workers under a piece-rate system produced at constant rates
Conclusions: human factors were responsible
Workers had a sense of involvement by participating in the experiment
Groups influenced output through workers’ desire for acceptance
Human relations movement
Employees who are happy and satisfied are motivated to perform better