Final answer:
Elton Mayo was the first researcher to discover that employee motivation improves when they feel their ideas are listened to and respected by managers, a concept that led to the recognition of the Hawthorne effect in organizational psychology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first researcher to discover that employees are motivated to perform better when they feel like managers have listened to them and respected their ideas was Elton Mayo. Mayo conducted the Hawthorne Studies at the Hawthorne Works plant near Chicago between 1929 and 1932, which found that employees' productivity increased when they sensed that their managers were paying attention to them, a phenomenon termed the Hawthorne effect. This laid the foundation for organizational psychology, focusing on the importance of psychological and social factors in the workplace, going beyond physical conditions such as lighting.
Mayo's research indicated that when employees perceive that management is responsive and values their contributions, they tend to be more engaged and productive. Hence, employee motivation and managerial behavior play a crucial role in organizational dynamics, which is pivotal for any company aiming to enhance its employee satisfaction and overall performance.