Norm is a university student who works during the summer at the pulp mill in his hometown. During his first week, he discovered that he could take twice as many samples from the wood chip trucks as he was required to. However, when he brought this fact up at a meeting, he was warned not to do this. The regular employees said it would jeopardize them in their work for the whole year. Which of the Hawthorne research findings does Norm's experience demonstrate?
A) Employees like to keep productivity as low as possible.
B) Social networks among employees regulate output.
C) People will not get promotions at the organization unless they conform to managerial norms.
D) People who overproduce are seen as "keeners" and will lose their jobs because other employees do not like them.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Norm's experience illustrates the finding from the Hawthorne studies that social networks among employees play a significant role in regulating output. His coworkers' reaction to his increased productivity shows how peer pressure and the social environment can influence individual work behavior to align with the group's norms.

Norm Is a University Student Who Works During the Summer