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The continental divide.

Article Excerpt
Kwiatkowski, Duncan and Shimmin (2006) wrote a provocative essay that touches upon a number of issues. The primary thesis of the article is that occupational and organizational (or I-O) psychology lacks a historical memory and, more pointedly, neglects British contributions. I am delighted that their essay is being published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, and I am pleased to have an opportunity to provide one Yank's perspective on these important issues. My commentary reacts to the main arguments, but also touches upon some other issues raised by the authors.

On the origin of the wheel

Kwiatkowski et al. suggested that credit has not been given to the NIIP for innovative ideas about leadership and worker sentiments. I certainly agree that the contributions of Elton Mayo and his work at Hawthorne are often overstated. In perhaps the most thorough recounting of the Hawthorne history, Gillespie (1991) commented that the tale of '... scientific defeat transformed into victory by a leap of insight has played a major role in investing the Hawthorne experiments with their mythic power' (p. 47). The textbook accounts of Hawthorne describe naive researchers stumbling upon the idea that treating the worker well will improve productivity. They fail to mention, however, that the Hawthorne plant had, for years, concerned itself with worker welfare (employees were provided with a gymnasium, social clubs, and financial and health services).

Kwiatkowski et al. seem to be guilty of similar amplification, however, with regard to the discoveries of NIIP. One can see the seeds of ideas such as empowerment, sympathetic leadership and organizational atmosphere prior...

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