The Psychology of Management by Lillian Moller Gilbreth
7. read to one while process is performed by oneself
1026 words | Chapter 217
There are only a few of the possible combinations, any of which
are used, as best suits the worker and the work.[17]
UNTRAINED WORKER REQUIRES APPEAL TO MOST SENSES.--The value of
appeal to many senses is best realized in teaching an inexperienced
worker. His senses help to remind him what to do, and to "check up"
his results.
AT TIMES APPEAL TO BUT ONE SENSE PREFERABLE.--In the case of
work that must be watched constantly, and that involves continuous
processes, it may prove best to have directions read to the worker.
So also, the Gang Instruction Card may often be read to advantage to
the gang, thus allowing the next member of a group of members to
rest, or to observe, while directions are taken in through the ears
only. In this way time is allowed to overcome fatigue, yet the work
is not halted.
AT TIMES ONE SENSE IS BEST NOT UTILIZED.--At times teaching may
well omit one sense in its appeal, because that sense will tend to
confuse the learning, and will, when the method is learned, be
otherwise utilized than it could be during the learning process. In
teaching the "touch system" of typewriting,[18] the position of the
keys is quickly remembered by having the key named aloud and at the
same time struck with the assigned finger, the eyes being
blindfolded. Thus hearing is utilized, also mouth muscles and finger
muscles, but _not_ sight.
IMPORTANCE OF FATIGUE RECOGNIZED.--A large part of the success
of sense appeal and sense training of Scientific Management is in
the appreciation of the importance of fatigue. This was early
recognized by Dr. Taylor, and is constantly receiving study from all
those interested in Scientific Management.
PSYCHOLOGY ALREADY AIDING THE INDUSTRIES IN SUCH STUDY.--Study
of the _Psychological Review_ will demonstrate the deep and
increasing interest of psychologists in the subject of fatigue. The
importance of such stimulating and helpful work as that done by
Doctor A. Imbert of the University of Montpellier, France, is
great.[19] Not only are the results of his investigations
commercially valuable, but also they are valuable as indicating the
close connection between Psychology and Industrial Efficiency.
IMPORTANCE OF HABITS.[20]--Prof. William James says "an acquired
habit, from the psychological point of view, is nothing but a new
pathway of discharge formed in the brain, by which certain incoming
currents ever after tend to escape."
And again,--"First, habit simplifies our movements, makes them
accurate, and diminishes fatigue,"[21] and habit diminishes the
conscious attention with which our acts are performed. Again he
says, page 144, "The great thing, then, in all education, is to make
our nervous system our ally instead of an enemy; as it is to fund
and capitalize our acquisitions, and live at ease upon the interest
of the fund. For this we must make automatic and habitual, as early
as possible, as many useful actions as we can, and guard against the
growing into ways that are likely to be disadvantageous to us, as we
should guard against the plague."
These quotations demonstrate the importance of habit.
How deep these paths of discharge are, is illustrated by the
fact that often a German, having spent the early years of his school
life in Germany, will, even after learning to speak, read, write
and think in English, find it difficult to figure in anything
but German.
HABIT EASILY BECOMES THE MASTER.--Another illustration of the
power of habit is exhibited by the bricklayer, who has been trained
under old-time methods, and who attempts to follow the packet
method. The standard motions for picking up the upper row of bricks
from the packet are entirely different from those for picking up the
lower row. The bricklayers were taught this, yet invariably used the
old-time motions for picking up the bricks, in spite of the waste
involved.[22]
WRONG PRECONCEIVED IDEAS HAMPER DEVELOPMENT.--Wrong habits or
ideas often retard development. For example, it took centuries for
artists to see the colors of shadows correctly, because they were
sure that such shadows were a darker tone of the color itself.[23]
TEACHING UNDER SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT RESULTS IN GOOD
HABITS.--The aim of teaching under Scientific Management, as has
been said, is to create good habits of thinking and good habits of
doing.
STANDARDS LEAD TO RIGHT METHODS OF THINKING AND ACTING.--The
standards of Scientific Management, as presented to the worker in
the instruction card, lead to good habits, in that they present the
best known method of doing the work. They thus aid the beginner, in
that he need waste no time searching for right methods, but can
acquire right habits at once. They aid the worker trained under an
older, supplanted method, in that they wage a winning war against
old-time, worn-out methods and traditions. Old motor images, which
tend to cause motions, are overcome by standard images, which
suggest, and pass into, standard motions. The spontaneous recurring
of images under the old method is the familiar cause of inattention
and being unable to get down to business, and the real cause of the
expression, "You can't teach old dogs new tricks." On the other
hand, the spontaneous recurrence of the images of the standard
method is the cause of greater speed of movement of the experienced
man, and these images of the standard methods do recur often enough
to drive down the old images and to enable all men who desire, to
settle down and concentrate upon what they are doing.
THROUGH STANDARDS BAD HABITS ARE QUICKEST BROKEN.--Through the
standards the bad habit is broken by the abrupt acquisition of a new
habit. This is at once practiced, is practiced without exception,
and is continually practiced until the new habit is in control.[24]
THROUGH STANDARDS NEW HABITS ARE QUICKEST FORMED.--These same
standards, as presented in teaching, allow of the speediest forming
of habits, in that repetition is exact and frequent, and is kept so
by the fact that the worker's judgment seconds that of the teacher.
HABITS ARE INSTILLED BY TEACHING.--The chief function of the
teacher during the stage that habits are being formed is the
instilling of good habits.
METHODS OF INSTILLING GOOD HABITS.--This he does by
insisting on
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