The Hawthorne Experiments - experiments for a more productive work in industry

In 1924 Western Electric began conducting experiments to test ways of improving worker's productivity. Will increase in illuminiation help increase productivity? Tests indicated not. More rest periods, decreasing working hours, increasing bonus were tested without conclusive results.

Photos courtesy of the Baker Library Historical Collections/HBS
In 1924, Western Electric began conducting experiments to test ways of improving workers’ productivity. This photo shows the factory cabling department, ca. 1925. The experiments would eventually revolutionize the workplace.

Mayo and Rothlisberger working at Harvard became collaborators on a study of worker fatigue. In 1928 they were approached by Western Electric bosses. Mayo and Rothlisberger oversaw more than 21000 interviews with their test subjects between 1928 and 1930. It is interesting to note that this was the time of the great depression in America.

This photo shows women in the relay assembly test room, ca. 1930. The experiments would eventually revolutionize the workplace.

Researcher's found that the workers changed their behavior on being observed as part of the experiment. In 1950s the term coined for this was the  "Hawthorne Effect".  Because of this, the experiment will not deliver true results. Nowadays, researchers have changed their test methodologies. They use random clinical trials, control groups in experiments and other safeguards in attempt to weed out bias in studies.

Researchers found that human beings are not only motivated by money, but there were other motivational factors like:

- a sense of belonging to an organisation

- camaraderie among peers

Elton Mayo (left) with Fritz J Roethlisberger, ca. 1940.

Even today one can go to the Baker Library at the Harvard Business School and get a typed transcript of someone talking about her hopes, her life, coming to America, and how she's trying to support her family.

Without these initial experiments industry wouldn't have come up with the idea of a work life balance today.