Efficiency Methods
An Introduction to Scientific Management

IIO EFFICIENCY METHODS the best present practice, and being timed by a time-study expert.” “ A first-class man ... is the man best fitted by nature and by training to do the task permanently, or until promoted.” The “ given man ” is stated to be anyone set to do the work, who has not necessarily the qualifications of a first-class man. " The task is that percentage of a standard man’s achievement that the given man to whom the task is to be assigned can do continuously and thrive, that he can do easily enough to win his bonus without injuring himself, temporarily or permanently, in any way.” These statements bring us back to our first enquiry—what is this percentage to be ? It evi- dently depends on whether Mrs. Gilbreth’s “ given man ” is a “ first-class man ” or not, and is therefore variable. It is here that the “ human element ” appears among the scientific determinations. One important criticism of scientific management is that the scientific method will not apply to human work, and we can see that such a criticism bears on this instance. The shortest time for an operation on the best method can be determined with scientific precision. This minimum is not to be prescribed to the average worker. But if the average time taken by a set of workers when they are first put to the job is adopted, it will be too great, as after some practice their speed always increases. Mr. Gantt gives a good example in his latest book. An’operation took