Question

If the Hawthorne Studies were conducted today, how would the results be similar to those found in the 1920s and 1930s? How would they be different? What might these results tell us about the value of the human relations approach in today’s world?

Answer 1

If the Hawthorne Studies were conducted today the results would be similar to those found in the 1920s and 1930s as even today the human instinct of association is strong and the workers have a strong desire to stand well with one’s colleague. Informal employee groups’ helps in determining the reference standard for the employee group even today and employees want to excel with references to these informal standards.

The difference, if the studies were conducted today, will be that individual employees will also weigh and factor in their individual interest as well as use their logic of reasoning and will not act merely on their instincts of association.

These results tells us that even though value of human relations continue to be of considerable importance in today’s world people will take a pragmatic approach to the aspect of human relations and will avoid taking irrational decisions and decisions that are not pragmatic just for the sake of human association. In today’s world human relations approach has taken a practical turn and the approach is based on principles of management. People look at human relations approach to develop and create sustainable synergies and not merely to belong in a group in a manner which holds no meaning or which adds no value for the group.