Question

Every few days Dilbert Doogood, a manager at Something Big Productions, sends a maintenance worker into the office to move the plastic plants around and make new arrangements of them. When the man leaves, productivity increases in alignment with Hawthorne's experiments with lighting that showed:

A) The impact of physical workspace changes on productivity.
B) The importance of employee morale in productivity.
C) The significance of leadership styles in productivity.
D) The effect of team dynamics on productivity.

Answer 1

The Hawthorne effect explains the increase in productivity seen when employees are aware of being observed, possibly including when maintenance rearranges the office, which can boost morale and affect team dynamics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Hawthorne effect is a phenomenon discovered during studies at the Western Electric's Hawthorne Works, which showed that productivity increases when individuals know they are being observed. This effect applies to the scenario with Dilbert Doogood's use of a maintenance worker to rearrange plastic plants. When the maintenance worker, likely perceived as an observer, enters the office, employees might feel their performance is being evaluated, which could lead to a spike in productivity. This closely aligns with options B and D from the Hawthorne studies' choices, indicating the importance of employee morale and the effect of team dynamics on productivity. The most appropriate answer, considering Hawthorne's findings, would be:

The statement that best describes the Hawthorne effect in Dilbert Doogood's scenario is:
B) The importance of employee morale in productivity
D) The effect of team dynamics on productivity

It is notable that physical changes, such as the rearrangement of plants, can serve as a signal that management is paying attention, thereby increasing worker productivity through improved morale and heightened awareness of being observed.