Organization and Strategy Seminar（2016-04）

Topic：Hawthorne Revisited: Lighting, Hope, and Goal Setting

Speaker: Chen-Bo Zhong,University of Toronto

Time: Friday, 24 June, 13:30-15:00 pm

Location: Room 215 , Guanghua Building 1

Abstract:

The Hawthorne experiments conducted in the early 1900s tested the effects of illumination on worker productivity and concluded that variation in lighting was not associated with changes in productivity. Since then the field of management has embarked on a human relation movement and paid less attention to the physical work environment. Based on the conceptual metaphor theory and motivation theories such as hope theory and the goal setting theory, we propose to revisit the conclusions of the Hawthorne experiments and call attention to physical workplace environment. We argue that lighting plays an important role in how people assess hope in goal pursuit and attainment because our sense of hope is grounded in the physiological perception of light. In three studies using both online surveys and experimental work simulations, we found that increased illumination is associated with higher hope in attaining one's goals and consequently led to setting more difficult goals. We discuss the implications of our findings on rethinking determinants of worker motivation and behavior.

Introduction:

Chen-Bo Zhong is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management at Rotman School of Management. His research focuses on ethics, moral psychology, decision making and unconscious processes. He has published in journals such as, the Science, Psychological Science, Administrative Science Quarterly, Organization Science, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin and Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. He currently serves as the associate editor at Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes and is on the editorial board ofJournal of Experimental Social Psychology,Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, and Social Psychological and Personality Science.

//www.rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/Zhong.aspx

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