Elton Mayo Was an Australian psychologist, professor and researcher whose legacy is recognized for his contributions in the field of industrial sociology in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century.
Mayo developed research in different US factories to understand how social relationships determine business productivity.
In the upper-left corner is observed May in his time as professor of Queensland. Source: Wikimedia.
Thanks to these studies, he elaborated theories about the labor interactions that still exist today.
One of Mayo's major contributions was the emphasis on the emotional needs of employees to increase productivity.
This psychologist promoted the idea that good labor relations are more motivating than economic incentives.
Biography
George Elton Mayo was born in Adelaide, Australia on December 26, 1880. He studied Philosophy at the University of Adelaide and after graduating he was appointed professor at the University of Queensland.
In 1923 resigned to the University of Queensland to move to the University of Pennsylvania where it continued its investigations in several textile companies.
In these studies he drew attention to the importance of organizational sociology and psychology in work environments.
In 1926 he moved to Harvard Business School. It was there where he made his most important study: the Hawthorne research that began in 1927 and lasted for more than 5 years.
After World War II he moved to England where his wife and daughters lived. There he devoted himself to assisting British industry in post-war recovery, until his death in 1947.
Hawthorne Research
In 1927, May initiated a pioneering socio-economic experiment in the field of industrial research. This study, known as the Hawthorne Research, takes its name from the Hawthorne electric company, where it took place.
This research consisted in subjecting workers to a series of changes in their schedules, salaries, breaks, lighting conditions and degrees of supervision.
The purpose of these observations was to determine what would be the most favorable conditions for productivity.
Initially it was thought that economic stimuli would increase employee efficiency. However, the results were surprising: the reason for the increase in productivity was due to the extra attention being paid to them.
The results of this project were published in 1939 by associate researchers F.J. Roethlisberger and William J. Dickson, in the book Management and the Worker .
The social problems of industrialized civilization
In 1933 May published the book"The Human Problems of an Industrial Civilization", which is still considered his most important work.
In his pages he expounded the theory that human relations in the workplace were creating a social problem in modern civilization.
Mayo asserted that industrialization accelerated production and promoted economic growth. But it had not helped to improve the living conditions of people and it was urgent that they also improved.
In addition, he presented a clear political position stating that the tension between employers and workers could not be resolved with socialism.
Instead, he thought that psychology was the only tool that could help to understand and solve this problem.
The legacy of Elton Mayo
Mayo's main contribution was to demonstrate the importance of social relationships within working environments.
Over time their theories were re-evaluated and questioned but they remain an important basis for studies of labor relations.
The Hawthorne Effect
During his research at Hawthorne, Mayo discovered what he would call the"Hawthorne Effect". This refers to the increase in the productivity of workers when they perceive that they are being studied.
Mayo found that productivity increased even when working conditions were less favorable. In reviewing the variables, he discovered that this was due to the attention they were receiving.
This was how he established the theory that workers were more productive insofar as they were more observant.
The social dimension of industry
According to Mayo, understanding social problems is as necessary as understanding material problems.
This was a fundamental contribution at the beginning of the 20th century, when the efforts of science were concentrated in the development of industry.
For this theorist, the economic incentives were important to motivate the employees, but more important the relation of the worker with its working environment. A good working environment can be more motivating than good contracting conditions.
In addition, it affirmed that the workers can not be treated in isolation but must be analyzed as members of a group. The social norms of the groups within the working environment are determinant in the productivity of a company.
For example, an employee who produces above average often loses the affection of his peers. For phenomena such as this, it is necessary to understand how the team members relate to propose really effective motivation strategies.
For this reason, May proposes that managers become aware of their relationships with workers. Greater attention to their social expectations as well as more intense interaction implies an increase in motivation and an increase in productivity.
The bases of new disciplines
According to theories of May, knowing the capabilities of a worker is not enough to predict their productivity within the company.
According to him, the skills can give an idea of the physical and mental potential of the employee. However, efficiency can also be determined by their social relationships within the workplace.
The above statements inspired numerous research and laid the groundwork for the development of fields such as industrial sociology and organizational psychology.
That is why, despite criticism and questioning, the legacy of Elton Mayo remains valid until today.
References
- British Library. (S.F.). Elton Mayo. Retrieved from: https://www.bl.uk/people/elton-mayo
- New World Encyclopedia. (2014). Elton Mayo. Retrieved from: newworldencyclopedia.org.
- Revolvy. (S.F.) Elton Mayo. Recovered from: revolvy.com.
- The Economist. (2009). Elton Mayo: economist.com.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2017). Elton Mayo. Retrieved from: britannica.com.