Motivation is important, understanding how to properly motivate employees can help to increase productivity and employee retention.
For this paper, the motivational theory I have decided upon was The Hawthorne Studies. I found this to be a highly interesting case study. The original research was to determine what the impact of brighter illumination would have on the workplace. In the initial test, the researchers had two groups, a test group and a control group. The test group’s lighting periodically changed, while the control group remained at a consistent lighting. The researches were caught off guard by the fact that both groups productivity increased and one of the test groups also increased when the light was lowered. These results were not what the researchers anticipated so it was determined that further study was required.
They returned to conduct further testing on a group of women assembling telephone relays. Hersey, Blanchard, & Johnson, indicate that “The researches improved the working conditions of the women by implementing such innovations as scheduled rest periods, company lunches and shorter workweeks” (Hersey, Blanchard, & Johnson, 2014, pg. 42). The production again increased. The researches decided to take everything away, resetting everything what it was in the beginning assuming this would reduce production, instead it went to new highs. What they found was the extra attention they received by the researchers because of the study, they no longer felt
For this paper, the motivational theory I have decided upon was The Hawthorne Studies. I found this to be a highly interesting case study. The original research was to determine what the impact of brighter illumination would have on the workplace. In the initial test, the researchers had two groups, a test group and a control group. The test group’s lighting periodically changed, while the control group remained at a consistent lighting. The researches were caught off guard by the fact that both groups productivity increased and one of the test groups also increased when the light was lowered. These results were not what the researchers anticipated so it was determined that further study was required.
They returned to conduct further testing on a group of women assembling telephone relays. Hersey, Blanchard, & Johnson, indicate that “The researches improved the working conditions of the women by implementing such innovations as scheduled rest periods, company lunches and shorter workweeks” (Hersey, Blanchard, & Johnson, 2014, pg. 42). The production again increased. The researches decided to take everything away, resetting everything what it was in the beginning assuming this would reduce production, instead it went to new highs. What they found was the extra attention they received by the researchers because of the study, they no longer felt