Efficiency Methods
An Introduction to Scientific Management

THE INSTRUCTION CARD 123 prevent work under an instruction card from being monotonous. It may also be said that, quite apart from the bonus incentive, which we have still to discuss, the workers are encouraged to do well by the chance of promotion, as the instructors or demonstrators are chosen from the best workers. Mr. Gantt said in his evidence before the U.S. Commission : “ We get from our men . . . when we begin to instruct them, and they have the inspiration of the higher grade man who is helping them and not driving them, the material for more responsible positions.” There are obvious dangers, however, threatening the workman who is trained merely to more special- ized work. It is said that he can be passed from one job to another when they are all standardized in the same way; but it would seem that he would, as a rule, pass through a period of lower efficiency and there- fore lower pay when thus changed. The length of the period varies through a large range (see last chapter), according to the novelty and difficulty of the new task. Who makes out the instruction card ? For any form like the one reproduced on p. 119 several people must be responsible, each for certain entries. Most of it comes from the recorded data of the time- study men. Taylor’s instruction card clerk or foreman was responsible mainly for distributing them, and filing them when not in use. Occasionally gang instruction cards are used, and