The document summarizes the Hawthorne experiments conducted at Western Electric's Hawthorne plant from 1927-1932. The experiments sought to understand how social and psychological factors in the workplace impact productivity. They found that friendlier observation and valuing employees led to higher productivity than physical changes alone. The experiments highlighted the importance of listening to employees, informal social groups, and group pressures over financial incentives. They provided an impetus for considering human relations and behavioral perspectives in management.

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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