i THE HAWTHORNE STUDIES AS A GROUND- BREAKING WORK IN THE FIELD OF MANAGEMENT Ademolu Adediran Master of Industrial and Personnel Relations Programme, Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. June 2021. Email: aadediran0526@stu.ui.edu.ng ABSTRACT The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th Centuries led to the emergence of mechanized factory system and new manufacturing processes. The large scale of operations, modern methods, use of lower- cost labour, and the increased production among other factors characterizing the new work forms necessitated the emergence of management as an area of expertise. The early day management principles were built around pure scientific forms of management as against charismatic leadership. Organization leaders operated with the belief that human beings are like machines, are inherently lazy and solely motivated by money. The adopted management principles were autocratic in nature and led to managers encountering some difficulties and frustrations until in the 1930’s when Elton Mayo’s team conducted the Hawthorne experiments. The experiments revealed that when workers believe that they are valued, taken care of and get opportunities to be involved in decision making, they contribute more to increase in productivity levels as against when their physical work environment is improved on. The Hawthorne studies which revealed that employees like other humans are social animals that always desire to be heard and valued, and this is what motivates them and ultimately enhances their productivity. This human relations side the studies introduced to the field of management laid a foundation for what is called Human Resources management today.