Hawthorne Effect

The Hawthorne Effect, also known as the observer effect, is a phenomenon in which individuals modify or improve their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed. The term originated from a series of studies conducted at the Hawthorne Works, a Western Electric factory in Chicago, in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

The original studies aimed to examine the relationship between workplace lighting levels and worker productivity. Researchers observed that when lighting levels were increased, worker productivity also increased. However, when lighting levels were later decreased, productivity still increased. The researchers concluded that the act of being observed and the knowledge that their performance was being measured led workers to modify their behavior, resulting in increased productivity.

The Hawthorne Effect is relevant in various fields, including psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior, and has implications for research methodology and workplace management:

1. Research methodology: The Hawthorne Effect highlights the importance of considering the potential impact of observation on the behavior of research subjects. Researchers must carefully design their studies and control for potential biases introduced by the presence of observers or the subjects' awareness of being observed.
2. Workplace management: The Hawthorne Effect suggests that employees may be motivated to perform better when they know their performance is being monitored or evaluated. Managers can use this knowledge to develop strategies for motivating and engaging employees, such as setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and recognizing and rewarding high performance.
3. Organizational behavior: The Hawthorne Effect also highlights the complex relationship between individual behavior and environmental factors, such as workplace conditions, management practices, and social dynamics. Understanding the factors that influence employee behavior can help organizations create more effective work environments and improve overall performance.

In summary, the Hawthorne Effect is when individuals change their behavior in response to being observed. This effect has significant implications for research methodology and the study of human behavior, as well as practical applications in workplace management and organizational behavior.

See Also

• IT Strategy (Information Technology Strategy)
• IT Governance
• Enterprise Architecture
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• IT Sourcing (Information Technology Sourcing)
• IT Operations (Information Technology Operations)
• E-Strategy