Question

Which of the following statements characterizes the thinking that emerged from the Hawthorne studies?

A. Employees are primarily motivated by monetary incentives.
B. Physical working conditions have the most significant impact on employee productivity.
C. Social and psychological factors can affect employee productivity.
D. Workers are best motivated through a strict chain of command.

Answer 1

The thinking from the Hawthorne studies highlighted the impact of social and psychological factors on employee productivity, giving rise to the concept of the Hawthorne effect, where observed employees perform better.

Step-by-step explanation:

The thinking that emerged from the Hawthorne studies led to the discovery of the Hawthorne effect, which is characterized by the increase in performance of individuals who are noticed, watched, and paid attention to by researchers or supervisors.

This effect acknowledged that social and psychological factors have a significant effect on employee productivity, more so than physical work conditions or changes like lighting levels. The studies conducted at Western Electric's

Hawthorne Works signified a shift in understanding employee motivation and marked the origin of organizational psychology, emphasizing the importance of human interaction factors, such as supervisorial style, and their impact on productivity.