Elton Mayo’s Hawthorn experiments

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.
Over the course of five years, Mayo’s team altered the female worker’s working
conditions and then monitored how the 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.
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. He also concluded that workers were motivated by more
than self interest and instead the following applied:

• There is an unwritten understanding between the worker and employer regarding

what is expected from them; Mayo called this the psychological contract.

• 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, 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.

• 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.