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The Psychology of Management by Lillian Moller Gilbreth

8. the available money for carrying on the investigations.

1176 words  |  Chapter 149

These questions at least must be answered before it is possible to decide whether study shall be made or not, and to what degree it can be carried. COST THE DETERMINING FACTOR.--It is obvious that in all observation in the industrial world cost must be the principal determining feature. Once the cost can be estimated, and the amount of money that can be allowed for the investigation determined, it is possible at least to approximate satisfactory answers to the other questions. How closely the answers approximate depends largely on the skill and experience of the analyst. The greater number of times the work is to be repeated, the less the ultimate cost. The more elements contained similar to elements already determined, the less the additional cost, and the less the time necessary. The more elements contained that can be used again, even in different work, the less the ultimate cost. The better trained the analyst, the less the immediate or additional cost and time. Much depends on the amount of previous data at hand when the investigation is being made, and on the skill and speed of the analyst in using these data. PROCESS OF DIVISION UNENDING.--In practice, the process of division continues as long as it can show itself to be a method for cost reducing. Work may be divided into processes: each process into subdivisions; each subdivision into cycles; each cycle into elements; each element into time units; each time unit into motions,--and so on, indefinitely, toward the "indivisible minimum."[4] MEASURING MAY TAKE PLACE AT ANY STAGE.--At any of these stages of division the results may be taken as final for the purpose of the study,--and the operations, or final divisions of the work at that stage, may be measured. To obtain results with the least expenditure of time, the operations must be subjected to motion study before they are timed as well as after. This motion study can be accurate and of permanent value only in so far as the divisions are final. The resulting improved operations are then ready to be timed. ULTIMATE ANALYSIS THE FIELD OF PSYCHOLOGY.--When the analyst has proceeded as far as he can in dividing the work into prime factors the problem continues in the field of psychology. Here the opportunities for securing further data become almost limitless. ULTIMATE ANALYSIS JUSTIFIABLE.--It is the justification for analysis to approach the ultimate as nearly as possible, that the smaller and more difficult of measurement the division is, the more often it will appear in various combinations of elements. The permanence and exactness of the result vary with the effort for obtaining it. QUALIFICATIONS OF AN ANALYST.--To be most successful, an analyst should have ingenuity, patience, and that love of dividing a process into its component parts and studying each separate part that characterizes the analytic mind. The analyst must be capable of doing accurate work, and orderly work. To get the most pleasure and profit from his work he should realize that his great, underlying purpose is to relieve the worker of unnecessary fatigue, to shorten his work period per day, and to increase the number of his days and years of higher earning power. With this realization will come an added interest in his subject. WORKER SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF ANALYSIS.--It is not enough that the worker should understand the methods of measurement. He can get most from the resultant standards and will most efficiently coöperate if he understands the division into elements to be studied. SCHOOLS SHOULD PROVIDE TRAINING.--Much of the training in analysis in the schools comes at such a late period of the course that the average industrial worker must miss a large part of it. This is a defect in school training that should be remedied. Even very young children soon are capable of, and greatly enjoy, dividing a process into elements. If the worker be taught, in his preparations, and in the work itself, to divide what he does into its elements, he will not only enjoy analysis of his work, but will be able to follow the analysis in his own mind, and to coöperate better in the processes of measurement. THE SYNTHESIST'S WORK IS SELECTION AND ADDITION.--The synthesist studies the individual results of the analyst's work, and their inter-relation, and determines which of these should be combined, and in what manner, for the most economic result. His duty is to construct that combination of the elements which will be most efficient. IMPORTANCE OF SELECTION MUST BE EMPHASIZED.--If synthesis in Scientific Management were nothing more than combining all the elements that result from analysis into a whole, it would be valuable. Any process studied analytically will be performed more intelligently, even if there is no change in the method. But the most important part of the synthesist's work is the actual elimination of elements which are useless, and the combination of the remaining elements in such a way, or sequence, or schedule, that a far better method than the one analyzed will result. We may take an example from Bricklaying.[5] In "Stringing Mortar Method, on the Filling Tiers before the Days of the Pack-on-the-Wall-Method"--the division, which was into operations only, showed eighteen operations and eighteen motions for every brick that was laid. Study and synthesis of these elements resulted in a method that required only 1 3/4 motions to lay a brick. Over half the original motions were found to be useless, hence entirely omitted. In several other cases it was found possible to make one motion do work for two or four brick, with the same, or less, fatigue to the worker. RESULT IS THE BASIS FOR THE TASK.--The result of synthesis is the basis for the task,--it becomes the standard that shows what has actually been done, and what can be expected to be repeated. It is important to note the relation between the task and synthesis. When it becomes generally understood that the "Task," under Scientific Management is neither an ideal which exists simply in the imagination, nor an impossibly high estimate of what can be expected,--but is actually the sum of observed and timed operations, plus a definite and sufficient percentage of allowance for overcoming the fatigue,--then much objection to it will cease. GENERAL LACK OF KNOWLEDGE THE CHIEF CAUSE OF OBJECTION TO THE TASK.--As is the case with most objections to Scientific Management, or its elements, ignorance is the chief obstacle to the introduction and success of the Task Idea. This ignorance seems to be more or less prevalent everywhere among managers as well as workers. Scientific Management can, and does, succeed even when the workers are ignorant of many of its fundamental principles, but it will never make the strides that it should until every man working under it, as well as all outside, understand _why_ it is doing as it does, as well as _what_ is done. This educational campaign could find no better starting point than the word "task," and the "task idea." THE NAME TASK IS UNFORTUNATE.[6]--The Century Dictionary defines "Task" as follows:
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Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. CHAPTER I PAGE 3. CHAPTER II 4. CHAPTER III 5. CHAPTER IV 6. CHAPTER V 7. CHAPTER VI 8. CHAPTER VII 9. CHAPTER VIII 10. CHAPTER IX 11. CHAPTER X 12. CHAPTER I 13. 1. Management is a life study of every man who works with other 14. 2. A knowledge of the underlying laws of management is the most 15. 3. This knowledge is to be had _now_. The men who have it are 16. 4. The psychology of, that is, the mind's place in management is 17. 5. It is a division well fitted to occupy the attention of the 18. introduction to psychology and to management, can suggest the 19. 2. what we have defined as the "Transitory" plan of 20. 3. management which not only is not striving to be 21. 4. the distinctive name is the Taylor Plan of Management. 22. 1. To enumerate the underlying principles on which scientific 23. 2. To show in how far the other two types of management vary 24. 3. To discuss the psychological aspect of each principle. 25. 1. The relation of Scientific Management to the other types 26. 3. The relation between the various elements of Scientific 27. 4. The psychology of management in general, and of the three 28. 9. Welfare. 29. 2. Appearance and importance of the idea in Traditional and 30. 3. Appearance and importance of the idea in Scientific 31. 4. Elements of Scientific Management which show the effects 32. 5. Results of the idea upon work and workers. 33. 3. Contrary to a widespread belief that Scientific Management 34. 4. Scientific Management fosters individuality by 35. 5. Measurement, in Scientific Management, is of ultimate 36. 6. These measured ultimate units are combined into methods of 37. 7. Standardization under Scientific Management applies to all 38. 8. The accurate records of Scientific Management make 39. 9. Through the teaching of Scientific Management the 40. 10. The method of teaching of Scientific Management is a 41. 11. Incentives under Scientific Management not only stimulate 42. 12. It is for the ultimate as well as immediate welfare of 43. 13. Scientific Management is applicable to all fields of 44. 14. Scientific Management is applicable to self-management as 45. 15. It teaches men to coöperate with the management as well 46. 17. The psychological element of Scientific Management is the 47. 18. Because Scientific Management is psychologically right it 48. 19. This psychological study of Scientific Management 49. 20. Scientific Management simultaneously 50. 2. Halbert P. Gillette, Paper No. 1, American Society of 51. 6. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management_, para. 16, Am. Soc. M.E., Paper 52. 9. Morris Llewellyn Cooke, _Bulletin No. 5 of the Carnegie 53. 10. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management_, para. 234, Am. Soc. M.E., Paper 54. 13. Henry R. Towne, Introduction to _Shop Management_. (Harper & 55. 14. F.W. Taylor, _Principles of Scientific Management_, p. 123. 56. 16. F.W. Taylor, _Principles of Scientific Management_, p. 137. 57. CHAPTER II 58. 1. The importance of the study of the individual, and the 59. 2. The difficulty of the study, and the necessity for great 60. 3. The necessity of considering any one individual trait as 61. 4. The importance of the individual as distinct from the 62. 1. The work is more specialized, hence requires more 63. 2. With standardized methods comes a knowledge to the 64. 3. Motion study, in its investigation of the worker, supplies 65. 1. By psychological and physiological study of workers under 66. 2. By scientific study of the worker made before he comes 67. 1. Determining the capabilities of the boy, that is, seeing 68. 2. Determining the possibilities of his securing work in the 69. 11. Rewards must be prompt and provided for all 70. 12. Appreciation must be shown.[11] 71. 2. It is prepared for the particular individual who is 72. 1. When, where, how, and how much is individuality 73. 2. What consideration is given to the relation of the mind to 74. 3. What is the relative emphasis on consideration of 75. 6. What is the effect toward causing or bringing about 76. 9. L.B. Blan, _A Special Study of the Incidence of Retardation_, 77. 11. F.B. Gilbreth, _Cost Reducing System_, Chap. III. 78. CHAPTER III 79. 4. What are the results to the worker? 80. 9. Good health. 81. 1. That the position will be best filled by a very high and 82. 2. That the man is forced to use every atom of all of his 83. 3. That in many cases the work assigned for him to do calls 84. 4. That psychology tells us that a man fitted to perform some 85. 11. poor investigation of workers' special capabilities. 86. 4. assigning competent workers to fitting work. 87. 8. quantity of additional pay that shall be given for doing it. 88. 1. coöperation with the management in obtaining the prescribed 89. 2. the exercise of their ingenuity in making improvements 90. 3. the fitting of themselves for higher pay and promotion. 91. 4. Disciplinarian 92. 8. Inspector 93. 2. a good observer, able to note minute variations of method, 94. 3. a good teacher. 95. 1. the particular place in the field of knowledge in which 96. 2. the change in the type of criticism expected from the 97. 3. the far greater emphasis placed on duties as a teacher. 98. 6. an offense against the system (disobeying orders), falling 99. 1. in doing the work itself, as will be shown at length in 100. 2. outside of the regular working hours, but in connection 101. 2. Decide whether the place can be best handled as one, or 102. 2. the long time job. 103. 5. Gillette and Dana, _Cost Keeping and Management Engineering_, 104. 7. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management_, para. 221-231. Harper Ed., 105. 12. For excellent example of special routing see: Charles Day, 106. 13. C. Babbage, _Economy of Manufacturers_. p. 172. "The constant 107. 14. F.W. Taylor, _On the Art of Cutting Metals_, Paper No. 1119, 108. 15. C.G. Barth, _Slide Rules for Machine Shops and Taylor System_. 109. 17. Adam Smith, _Wealth of Nations_, p. 2. "The greatest improvement 110. 18. H.K. Hathaway, _The Value of "Non-Producers" in Manufacturing 111. 19. Gillette and Dana, _Cost Keeping and Management Engineering_, 112. 20. Morris Llewellyn Cooke, _Bulletin No. 5, Carnegie Foundation for 113. 21. H.L. Gantt, _Work, Wages and Profits_, p. 120. 114. CHAPTER IV 115. 1. The student will discover, in the books on experimental 116. 2. He will receive priceless instruction in methods of 117. 4. What accurate measurement determines his 118. 3. time for overcoming delays. 119. 3. be willing to coöperate. 120. 2. that all get an ample compensation for what 121. 3. that under them general welfare is considered; 122. 2. the length of time required for a worker to do a 123. 3. the amount of rest and the time of rest required to 124. 3. how best to use them. 125. 4. furnish resulting timed elements to the synthesizer 126. 1. The maintained tension on a belt bears a close relation to 127. 2. The speed of a buzz planer determines its liability to 128. 2. what function it will be best to assign them to and to 129. 2. ability to assign men to the work which they should do, to 130. 3. ability to predict. On this ability to predict rests the 131. 2. The worker's judgment is appealed to. The method that he uses 132. 3. The worker's reasoning powers are developed. Continuous 133. 4. The worker fits his task, therefore there is no need of 134. 5. There is elimination of soldiering, both natural and 135. 1. The worker will become more and more willing to impart his 136. 2. G.M. Stratton, _Experimental Psychology and Its Bearing upon 137. 4. For apparatus for psychological experiment see Stratton, p. 38, 138. 6. Morris Llewellyn Cooke, Bulletin No. 5, _The Carnegie Foundation 139. 12. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management_, pp. 398-391. Harper Ed., p. 179. 140. 13. President's Annual Address, Dec., 1906. Vol. 28, Transactions 141. 15. R.T. Dana, For Construction Service Co., _Handbook of Steam 142. 20. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management_, para. 46. Harper Ed., p. 30. 143. CHAPTER V 144. 3. how many elements that it contains are likely to be 145. 4. how many new elements that it contains are likely to be 146. 5. the probable cost of the work after it has been studied-- 147. 6. The loss, if any, from delaying the work until after it 148. 7. the availability of trained observers and measurers, 149. 8. the available money for carrying on the investigations. 150. 2. "labor imposed, especially a definite quantity or amount 151. 3. "a lesson to be learned; a portion of study imposed by a 152. 5. "burdensome employment; toil." 153. 1. The tools and surrounding conditions with which the work 154. 3. The time that the work shall take is scientifically 155. 5. The quality of the output is prescribed. 156. 1. law of no ratio between the foot-pounds of work done and 157. 3. law of classification of work according to percentage of 158. 6. laws that will predict the right speed, feed and cut on 159. 7. laws for predicting maximum quantity of output that a man 160. 8. laws for determining the selection of the men best suited 161. 1. Compare _Mechanical Analysis_. Taylor and Thompson, _Concrete, 162. 9. London, _Engineering_, Sept. 15, 1911. 163. CHAPTER VI 164. 1. to analyze the best practice known into the smallest 165. 4. to synthesize the necessary standard elements into 166. 1. that all management data would be available to 167. 2. that such data, being available also to all standardizers, 168. 4. that, from a study and comparison of the collected data a 169. 8. All of these various savings could be invested in more 170. 9. These more valuable results would again be available to 171. 1. for use as records of successful methods which may be 172. 2. for use by the instruction card clerk in explaining to 173. 3. What to Do. 174. 2. Qualities of Products. 175. 3. Clearing up. This is the only type used by Scientific 176. 1. Because they directly increase output by eliminating 177. 2. Because all surroundings suggest an easy achievement. Knowing 178. 1. It gives the worker immediate knowledge of the prescribed 179. 2. He does not have to worry as to the maximum variation that 180. 3. There is no fear of criticism or discharge for using his 181. 2. The idea of perfection is not involved in the standard of 182. 6. For desirability of standard signals see R.T. Dana, _Handbook of 183. 8. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management,_ para. 285, Harper Ed., 184. 14. Charles Babbage, _On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures_, 185. 16. F.A. Parkhurst, _Applied Methods of Scientific Management, 186. 17. H.L. Gantt, paper 928, A.S.M.E., para. 15. 187. CHAPTER VII 188. 3. Increase efficiency. 189. 1. The necessity of having more accurate records of the 190. 2. The necessity for so training the worker, before, as well 191. 2. the work as it is planned out by the managers, and handed 192. 2. to route the worker to the placed materials. 193. 4. Conscious record, conscious programme. 194. 10. Standardized record, standardized programme. 195. 1. One of a gang, unconscious 196. 2. Individual output,--standardized 197. 1. Gillette and Dana, _Cost Keeping and Management Engineering_, 198. 3. Gillette and Dana, _Cost Keeping and Management Engineering_, 199. 5. William James, _Psychology, Briefer Course_, p. 179. 200. CHAPTER VIII 201. 1. "to point out, direct, show;" "to tell, inform, instruct, 202. 3. "to impart knowledge or practical skill to;" "to guide in 203. 1. In that he is required to render reasons in writing for 204. 2. That, as soon as work is placed on the bonus basis, the 205. 2. Teaching of right habits of doing the right methods. 206. 2. Worker has no opportunity under the old industrial 207. 5. Right habits can be instilled. 208. 5. The Management. } 209. 1. Written, by means of 210. 3. Object-lessons: 211. 4. The instruction comes at the exact time that the learner 212. 3. from actual practice in teaching. 213. 10. develops the will. 214. 2. read to oneself aloud--eyes and ears appealed to, also 215. 4. read aloud to one and also read silently by one,-- 216. 5. read aloud, and at the same time copied--eyes, ears, 217. 7. read to one while process is performed by oneself 218. 1. right motions first, that is to say,--the right number 219. 2. speed of motions second, that is to say, constantly 220. 3. constantly improving quality.[25] 221. 2. "The particular one of having images which are not 222. 4. mixed. 223. 3. that he may be sure of advancement with age and 224. 4. that he is sure of the "square deal." 225. 3. Competition with the standard record. 226. 1. During working hours, where the recognition of his 227. 2. Outside the work. He has, under Scientific Management, more 228. 1. A collection of knowledge relating in its entirety to the 229. 2. A definite procedure, that will enable the learner to 230. 12. Opportunities and demands for "thinking" 231. 16. Resultant happiness of worker. 232. 2. H.K. Hathaway, _Prerequisites to the Introduction of Scientific 233. 6. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management_, para. 289, Harper Ed., 234. 8. W.D. Ennis, _An Experiment in Motion Study, Industrial 235. 9. C.S. Myers, M.D., _An Introduction to Experimental Psychology_, 236. 12. F.B. Gilbreth, _Bricklaying System_, chap. I, _Training of 237. 19. Imbert, _Etudes experimentales de travail professionnel ouvrier, 238. 21. _Ibid._, p. 138. William James, Psychology, Advanced Course. 239. 24. Prof. Bain, quoted In William James' _Psychology, Briefer 240. 30. Attracting the attention is largely a matter of appealing to 241. 39. M.S. Read, _An Introductory Psychology_, pp. 212-213. William 242. 51. For example, see W.D. Scott's _Increasing Efficiency in 243. 52. R.A. Bray, _Boy Labor and Apprenticeship_, chap. II, especially 244. 53. Wilfred Lewis, _Proceedings of the Congress of Technology_, 245. 56. For value of personality see J.W. Jenks's, _Governmental Action 246. 58. Compare with the old darkey, who took her sons from a Northern 247. 61. Morris Llewellyn Cooke, _Bulletin No. 5_ of _The Carnegie 248. 62. A well known athlete started throwing a ball at his son in 249. 63. Meyer Bloomfield, _The Vocational Guidance of Youth_, Houghton 250. 64. A. Pimloche, _Pestalozzi and the Foundation of the Modern 251. 65. Friedrich Froebel, _Education of Man_, "To secure for this 252. CHAPTER IX 253. 1. fines, which are usually simply a cutting down of wages, 254. 3. assignment to less pleasant or less desirable work. 255. 8. Professional standing. 256. 9. coöperative work 257. 3. industrial coöperation. These are defined and discussed at 258. 5. F.W. Taylor, _Shop Management_, para. 310-311, Harper Ed., 259. 6. See also C.U. Carpenter, _Profit Making in Shop and Factory 260. CHAPTER X 261. 3. physical development. 262. 2. Habits, under Scientific Management, 263. 3. Physical development 264. 1. As for habits we must consider 265. 2. General mental development is provided for by the experience 266. 1. Personal responsibility is developed by 267. 2. Responsibility for others is provided for by the 268. 3. Appreciation of standing is fostered by 269. 4. Self-control is developed by 270. 5. "Squareness." This squareness is exemplified first of all by 271. 1. Contentment is the outgrowth of the personal responsibility, 272. 2. The idea of brotherhood is fostered particularly through the 273. 3. The "will to do" is so fostered by Scientific Management that 274. 1. It will educate the worker to the point where workers will 275. 2. It will aid the cause of Industrial Peace. 276. 6. See remarkable work of Dr. A. Imbert, _Evaluation de la Capacite 277. 7. Clark and Wyatt, Macmillan, pp. 269-270. 278. introduction of new, 137.

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