What is the Hawthorne effect?

The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals modify their behavior in response to being observed or monitored. This concept emerged from a series of experiments conducted at the Hawthorne Works plant in the 1920s and 1930s, which aimed to understand the impact of various working conditions on employee productivity. Researchers discovered that simply observing workers led to increases in their productivity, regardless of the specific changes made to the working conditions.

The essence of the Hawthorne effect highlights that when people know they are being watched, they may change their behavior in ways that are not necessarily reflective of their true abilities or work habits but rather a reaction to the observation itself. This understanding is crucial in management and organizational behavior, as it underscores the importance of intrinsic motivation and the impact of management practices on employee performance.

While there are other important theories and methods in the field of management related to motivation, performance management, and supervision, the distinctive aspect of the Hawthorne effect revolves around the behavioral changes induced by observation, making it unique and pivotal in the study of human behavior in the workplace.