ABSTRACT
The Hawthorne studies were a revelation to students of organization in dramatizing the importance of social groups in industry. At the same time, and quite independently of the Hawthorne research, social psychologists were experimenting with groups in college laboratories. This research elucidated two processes that have important effects in the work organization. The first is conformity; groups develop norms or standards of comportment to which members conform. The second is support; groups provide comfort or aid to their members, particularly in frustrating or threatening environments.
