Why can an event such as the hawthorne studies be a major turning point in the history of management even if the idea is later shown in error?

Answer 1

The Hawthorne Studies were a series of experiments on worker productivity started in 1924 at the Hawthorne plant of Western Electric Company. The tests were to determine the effect of illumination on output; five tests pointed to the importance of factors other than illumination in affecting productivity. Early interpretations agreed that human relations not money caused increased output. Workers performed better when managers treated them positively. New data showed that money mattered, but productivity increased because of increased feelings of importance and group pride felt when selected for the project. One unintended contribution of the experiments was a rethinking of field research practices. Researchers realized that the researcher could influence the outcome of an experiment by being too involved with research subjects---the Hawthorn effect

Answer 2

its an important part because tell you about step into the science of management pratice