A Brief History of TWI: The Hawthorne Effect

Introduction

• Speaker: Stephen Lentz
• Topic: Precursor to Training Within Industry (TWI), focusing on the Hawthorne Effect.

Background

• Location: Cicero, Illinois (Hawthorne Works Facility by Western Electric)
• Year: 1924
• Commissioned by: National Academy of Science
• Purpose: To investigate the relationship between worker productivity and their environment.

The Hawthorne Experiments

• Initial Focus: Determine if factory lighting levels influence productivity.
  • Increased lighting was tested.
  • Managers and supervisors interviewed shop floor workers about work conditions.
• Surprising Result:
  • Productivity increased, even when lighting was reduced.

Outcomes and Further Investigation

• Conclusion by National Academy of Science: Initial study deemed inconclusive; study called off.
• Action by Western Electric:
  • Continued investigation to identify the cause of increased productivity.
  • Focused on a small group of women in relay making.
  • Found a 30% increase in output.

Key Discoveries

• Employee Interviewing Program:
  • First of its kind, allowing employees to express their feelings about jobs, supervisors, and work conditions.
  • Realization that productivity increased when workers felt supervisors were genuinely concerned.

Hawthorne Effect

• Impact:
  • Highlighted the importance of managerial and leadership participation in increasing productivity.
  • Other attempts to replicate results were often unsuccessful.

Misconceptions

• Common Misunderstanding: Belief that mere observation (being watched) increases productivity.
• True Insight:
  • Effective supervision involves soliciting feedback and making improvements based on it.
  • Supervisors were actively involved, listened to employees, and gave them a voice.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on the value of caring supervisors and participatory management in improving productivity.

Closing Remarks

• Encouragement to like, share, and subscribe for more content on TWI, lean, or continuous improvement.
• Call to leave questions or suggestions in the comments.