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The Psychology of Management by Lillian Moller Gilbreth

4. The importance of the individual as distinct from the

1087 words  |  Chapter 61

type. Many students are so interested in studying types and deducing laws which apply to types in general, that they lose sight of the fact that the individual is the basis of the study,--that individuality is that for which they must seek and for which they must constantly account. As Sully says, we must not emphasize "_typical developments_ in a new individual," at the expense of "typical development _in a new individual_."[5] It is the fact that the development occurs in an individual, and not that the development is typical, that we should emphasize. INDIVIDUALITY SELDOM RECOGNIZED UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT.--Under Traditional Management there was little or no systematized method for the recognition of individuality or individual fitness.[6] The worker usually was, in the mind of the manager, one of a crowd, his only distinguishing mark being the amount of work which he was capable of performing. SELECTING WORKERS UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT.--In selecting men to do work, there was little or no attempt to study the individuals who applied for work. The matter of selection was more of a process of "guess work" than of exact measurement, and the highest form of test was considered to be that of having the man actually tried out by being given a chance at the work itself. There was not only a great waste of time on the work, because men unfitted to it could not turn it out so successfully, but there also was a waste of the worker, and many times a positive injury to the worker, by his being put at work which he was unfitted either to perform, to work at continuously, or both. In the most progressive type of Traditional Management there was usually a feeling, however, that if the labor market offered even temporarily a greater supply than the work in hand demanded, it was wise to choose those men to do the work who were best fitted for it, or who were willing to work for less wages. It is surprising to find in the traditional type, even up to the present day, how often men were selected for their strength and physique, rather than for any special capabilities fitting them for working in, or at, the particular line of work to be done. OUTPUT SELDOM SEPARATED UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT.--Under Traditional Management especially on day work the output of the men was not usually separated, nor was the output recorded separately, as can be done even with the work of gangs. FEW INDIVIDUAL TASKS UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT.--Seldom, if ever, was an individual task set for a worker on day work, or piece work, and even if one were set, it was not scientifically determined. The men were simply set to work alone or in gangs, _as the work demanded_, and if the foreman was overworked or lazy, allowed to take practically their own time to do the work. If, on the other hand, the foreman was a "good driver," the men might be pushed to their utmost limit of their individual undirected speed, regardless of their welfare. LITTLE INDIVIDUAL TEACHING UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT.--Not having a clear idea either of the present fitness and the future possibilities of the worker, or the requirements of the work, no intelligent attempt could be made at efficient individual teaching. What teaching was done was in the form of directions for all, concerning the work in general, the directions being given by an overworked foreman, the holding of whose position often depended more upon whether his employer made money than upon the way his men were taught, or worked. SELDOM AN INDIVIDUAL REWARD UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT.--As a typical example of disregard of individuality, the worker in the household may be cited, and especially the "general housework girl." Selected with no knowledge of her capabilities, and with little or no scientific or even systematized knowledge of the work that she is expected to do, there is little or no thought of a prescribed and definite task, no teaching specially adapted to the individual needs of the taught, and no reward in proportion to efficiency. CAUSE OF THESE LACKS UNDER TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT.--The fault lies not in any desire of the managers to do poor or wasteful work, or to treat their workers unfairly,--but in a lack of knowledge and of accurate methods for obtaining, conserving and transmitting knowledge. Under Traditional Management no one individual knows precisely what is to be done. Such management seldom knows how work could best be done;--never knows how much work each individual can do.[7] Understanding neither work nor workers, it can not adjust the one to the other so as to obtain least waste. Having no conception of the importance of accurate measurement, it has no thought of the individual as a unit. INDIVIDUALITY RECOGNIZED UNDER TRANSITORY MANAGEMENT.-- Recognition of individuality is one of the principles first apparent under Transitory Management. This is apt to demonstrate itself first of all in causing the outputs of the workers to "show up" separately, rewarding these separated outputs, and rewarding each worker for his individual output. BENEFITS OF THIS RECOGNITION.--The benefits of introducing these features first are that the worker, (1) seeing his individual output, is stimulated to measure it, and (2) receiving compensation in accordance with his output, is satisfied; and (3) observing that records are necessary to determine the amount of output and pay, is glad to have accurate measurement and the other features of Scientific Management introduced. INDIVIDUALITY A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT.--Under Scientific Management the individual is the unit to be measured. Functionalization is based upon utilizing the particular powers and special abilities of each man. Measurement is of the individual man and his work. Analysis and synthesis build up methods by which the individual can best do his work. Standards are of the work of an individual, a standard man, and the task is always for an individual, being that percentage of the standard man's task that the particular individual can do. Records are of individuals, and are made in order to show and reward individual effort. Specific individuals are taught those things that they, individually, require. Incentives are individual both in the cases of rewards and punishments, and, finally, it is the welfare of the individual worker that is considered, without the sacrifice of any for the good of the whole. INDIVIDUALITY CONSIDERED IN SELECTING WORKERS.--Under Scientific Management individuality is considered in selecting workers as it could not be under either of the other two forms of management. This for several reasons:
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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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