The document summarizes the Hawthorne experiments conducted by Elton Mayo at Western Electric's Hawthorne plant from 1927-1932. The experiments sought to understand the impact of physical and social factors on worker productivity. They found that productivity increased both when lighting was increased and decreased, showing social factors were important. Later experiments showed friendly observation and valuing employees led to higher productivity than financial incentives alone. The experiments highlighted the importance of human relations in management and influenced the development of behavioral perspectives in organizational behavior.

1. The Behavioral
Perspective
Hathrone
Experiments
Faculty – Chandra Shekhar Pandey

2. • behavioural management
perspective placed much more
emphasis on individual attitudes and
behaviours and on group processes,
and recognized the importance of
behavioural processes in the
workplace.
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3. Why this theory came into
existence? The background :
• Failure of classical management
theories
• Unionization
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4. Hathrone studies
Hathrone studies were conducted by
Elton mayo and his associates.
These experiments were conducted in
Western Electric’s Hathrone plant
near Chicago (1927-32)
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5. The four experiments of Mayo
1. Illumination experiment
2. The relay assembly test room
3. Interview experiments
4. Bank wiring observation
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6. 1.Illumination experiment
The productivity of workers increased
both the times when light was
increased or decreased.
It means there is something other than
physical factors which is affecting
productivity.
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7. 2. The relay assembly test room
experiment
Friendly observation and value given
to employees resulted in higher
productivity
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8. 3. Interview experiments
Revealed the importance of listening
to the employees feelings, problems
and use of counseling interviewes.
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9. 4. Bank wiring observation
Informal organization
Rate busters
Rate chiselers
Group pressure on individual workers
worked stronger than financial
incentives.
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10. Importance of Hawthrone
experiments
• Impetus to human relations
approach, personnel management
and O.B
• Focus on workers and people’s
perspective
• Informal organizations
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