Chapter 1: Issues and Challenges that Organizations Face

Question 1

What study(s) marked the beginning of studies in organizational psychology? When were they completed? Describe the basic findings.

Answer 1

Hawthorne Studies completed at Western Electrical Company’s Hawthorne Works Plant near Chicago by Harvard Business School from 1924-1933. Started out as a way to improve efficiency and morale through lighting – first major finding is that performance jumped after an introduction of something novel.

Question 2

The Hawthorne Studies marked the beginning of what in organizational psychology?

Answer 2

Studies in the discipline – almost the discipline itself, but that was born a bit later.

Question 3

What did Kurt Lewin initiate? Describe. What larger movement was this work a part of?

Answer 3

Action Research. an approach where researchers and organizations collaborate on studying problems within the organization. This launched the the study of organizational change. (Is it also the beginning of the scientist-practitioner model?

Question 4

What is the term that represents an approach where researchers and organizations collaborate on studying problems within the organization in order to solve them? (specific moment in time, body of work) Who developed this approach?

Answer 4

Action Research, Kurt Lewin

Question 5

What were the primary themes of action research?

Answer 5

effects of leadership on worker productivity and joob attitudes such as satisfaction, group dynamics, group structure, communication and (I think this is its own clause) theories of motivation on worker performance (p. 10)

Question 6

During which period did the organizational behavior and organizational psychology disciplines blossom/develop?

Answer 6

Human Relations movement – 1940s and 1950s