Describe the findings of the Hawthorne studies.
What will be an ideal response?
The study uncovered what is referred to as the "Hawthorne effect" operating within the study groups. That is, the workers felt important because someone was observing and studying them at work. Thus, they produced more because of being observed and studied. The study also found that individual behaviors were modified within and by work groups. In a study referred to as the "bank wiring room," the Harvard researchers again faced perplexing results. The study group completed only two terminals per worker daily. This was considered to be a low level of output. The bank wiring room workers appeared to be restricting output. The work group members were friendly, got along well on and off the job, and helped each other. There appeared to be a practice of protecting the slower workers. The fast producers did not want to outperform the slowest producers. The slow producers were part of the team, and fast workers were instructed to "slow it down." The group formed an informal production norm of only two completed boards per day. The Harvard researchers learned that economic rewards did not totally explain worker behavior. Workers were observant, complied with norms, and respected the informal social structure of their group. The researchers also learned that social pressures could restrict output.
You might also like to view...
A negative balance for retained earnings due to cumulative net losses is called a(n)
A) ?deficit. B) ?retained loss. C) ?retained debit. D) ?other comprehensive loss.
In considering the purchase of technology-based products, a customer will adopt an innovation only if she or he considers it to be an improvement over the current product being used to satisfy the same need
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Two products with identical purchase prices may have very different product costs
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Which of the following is a condition that exists in the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) guidelines for advertising?
A. Advertisers should be cautious not to run baby-care advertisements during prime time. B. Advertisements targeting children should be withdrawn from mainstream channels. C. Manufacturers of baby-care products should not advertise their products through fictional characters. D. Care should be taken to incorporate minority and other groups in advertisements. E. Children's toys should be advertised only in print media.