Word of the Day: Hawthorne effect

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms |March 17, 2017

Hawthorne effect The Hawthorne effect is a psychological phenomenon that produces an improvement in human behavior or performance as a result of increased attention from superiors, clients or colleagues. In a collaborative effort, the effect can enhance results by creating a sense of teamwork and common purpose. In social networking, the effect may operate like peer pressure to improve the behavior of participants. The Hawthorne effect is relevant to human resource management (HRM). No single, all-encompassing definition of the Hawthorne effect exists today. It is one of several so-called effects of expectation seen in a wide range of situations. The mechanism of operation depends on the circumstances. In all cases, observed individuals behave or perform better than unsupervised individuals for a limited time if they suspect or know about the observation. However, the effect diminishes over time. For example, when the IT department of a corporation undergoes a reorganization, employee productivity is likely to rise in the short term, especially if the employees believe that they are more closely observed than they were under the previous management. In the long term, performance reverts to previous levels unless another environmental change occurs. The Hawthorne effect was first seen in the 1920s at the Western Electric Company's Hawthorne Works, from which the term derives. The Hawthorne studies were designed to find ways to increase worker productivity. An increase in the level of workplace illumination had a measurable positive effect on employee productivity. However, the researchers also found that when they lowered the lighting levels, productivity still increased. In fact, for a limited period after any change in the illumination level, the workers' average output increased. The researchers concluded that the specific conditions tested for had nothing to do with the productivity increases. Fritz J. Roethlisberger documented the results of the Hawthorne Studies in 1939 in Management and the Worker. The conclusions about worker productivity were in sharp contrast to the common perceptions of that time. Financial reward was found to be much less conducive to worker productivity than expected. Instead, greater productivity resulted when management made workers feel valued and aware that their concerns were taken seriously. Professors Michel Anteby and Rakesh Khurana wrote about the Hawthorne Studies in their article, A New Vision: The economic rewards of work were potentially picayune compared to the feeling of solidarity and worth created among individuals working together toward a common end. A manager's effectiveness, therefore, could be measured on the extent to which those in the organization internalized a common purpose and perceived the connection between their actions and the organization's ability to fulfill this common purpose. Management, then, was not about controlling human behavior but unleashing human possibility. Although the conclusions of the Hawthorne studies have since been called into question, the theory persists -- probably because most people understand that they usually perform with more care when observed than they do otherwise. Quote of the Day "Just remember that you need to find a balance between ethics, best practices in monitoring and keeping your employees happy and productive." - Gary Miliefsky   Trending Terms social networking employee productivity human resource management goldbricking ROWE employee monitoring   Learning Center Best practices for employer monitoring of social media Employer monitoring of social media should be covered in a social media policy for employees, explains IT security expert Joe Granneman in this security advice column. IoT at work: How IoT empowers employee productivity Deploying IoT in the workplace can improve employee productivity and employee satisfaction -- a win for both management and the company as a whole. Firms can monitor employees' online chats, EU court rules Human rights court says it is not unreasonable for employers to want to verify that staff are completing their professional tasks during working hours. Employee monitoring: Is Big Brother a bad idea? Employee monitoring can help protect intellectual property and keep an eye on employee activities, if it's done properly. In this interview, expert Kevin Beaver of Principle Logic LLC talks about the dos and don'ts of employee monitoring. Spyware vs. spyware: Employer and employee monitoring What rights and responsibilities do employers and employees have when monitoring others' use of company systems? Writing for Business Business activity monitoring provides an immediate real-time monitoring and _________ capability. A. decisioning B. decision-making Answer       Stay In Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com   Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed!   FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. 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