Efficiency Methods
An Introduction to Scientific Management

EDUCATION 193 for the help of young people obtained more tho- roughly than we can do here without some more administrative machinery installed. But the origin- ality of the vocational idea would seem to stand or fall by the way in which it can ascertain beforehand in which activities a child has a chance of doing good and effective work, in which activities it is likely to fail. To find this out is psychology of a very carefully specialized and very valuable type. The amount and place of training for a vocation, when once that vocation has been indicated, is quite another matter ; also the training may not be entirely devoted to strengthening the strong points ; it might aim at strengthening the weak ones. Scientific management, like all other forms of management, may choose, according to circum- stances and aims, for how much preliminary training of its workers it will ask; but if it has committed itself to any psychological study of work it must welcome heartily the development of detailed vocational guidance, as this will assist it greatly, and shorten its processes of selection and classifica- tion. This has been seen clearly, and adopted as part of his programme by Mr. Gilbreth only among the leaders ; the others seem to consider the whole conception of the educational experts concerned too new and vague to be of much use to them, and are inclined to adhere to their own “ training.” A management which means to be efficient in all senses must see to the training of new generations of skilled workers ; it must train up its own teachers, o