The Hawthorne Studies were a series of experiments conducted in the 1920s and 1930s at the Hawthorne Works factory in Illinois. These studies aimed to understand how different working conditions affected employee productivity. Surprisingly, researchers found that social factors and employee attitudes played a significant role in performance, rather than just physical working conditions. The findings from the Hawthorne Studies led to the development of the Human Relations Movement, emphasizing the importance of social interactions and employee morale in the workplace. This shift in focus has had a lasting impact on management practices and organizational theory, highlighting the need for a supportive work environment.