Efficiency Methods
An Introduction to Scientific Management

I98 EFFICIENCY METHODS management is the essential matter, the pivot on which all turns. He must put before him, as his first aims, efficiency, leading to increase of quality and quantity of output, and amicable relations with his workers. These form his national duties. If he find some fortunate combination of low labour cost and high wages, he may also produce good dividends. But it will hardly be a national duty to do this ; in fact, the nation may continue to dis- approve of large dividends. He may remember that, as the economy of high wages has been fairly well established, so has the soundness of a policy of small profits and a large production. In laying out his course of action to attain these two great aims, any manager will find it worth while to consider very seriously whether the Taylorian methods will help him. This book is not written to persuade him to try them. The authors have hoped it will indicate as clearly as possible what are the actual methods, distinct from pseudo-methods, and what seems the best path towards the really high aims involved ; further, to indicate how to avoid the pernicious imitations which pass under the name of “ scientific management.” These may cause national trouble, if not national disaster, if allowed to grow up on any extensive scale. The alteration of any existing organization to the new methods is a process which experience has proved to be no easy one to carry out. The ex- pression that rises naturally to one’s memory is the inscription on that “ pale lure ” that Bassanio