Efficiency Methods
An Introduction to Scientific Management

TIME-STUDY AND MOTION-STUDY 85 When the proper kind of observer or observers has been installed, the next matter for careful choice is the workers to be observed. The foundation of the approved method is very often some method by which an individual, or several, has obtained not- ably good results, when all have been left to choose their own way of working. It may then be said that the best worker (or workers) is taken as the basis of observation. A choice of the kind seems a priori obvious, and to entail a compliment to the worker; but those who know the history of piece- work rates will realize at once that this is thorny ground.1 When starting on adjustment of methods the management must have a thorough intelligent grasp of all the previous events in the works that are relevant to the matter, and the effect that has been produced by them in the workers’ minds. In Mr. Sanford Thompson’s article on Time- Study,2 he states that workers under observation by the investigator were always paid a 50 per cent, increase on their ordinary wages. Dr. Taylor speaks also of paying men twice their usual wages when observations were being made on their work. 1 See chap. xiii. Even in cases where there have been no previous disputes, a very bad impression can be produced if it should appear that the best worker is chosen, and is then given unusual and special facilities to speed him, just for the purpose of getting a short-time record, which, it is presumed, will after- wards be enforced on all. It will be clear to the reader that this is not the programme of real time-study, but if the workers should get the idea that it is, almost ineradicable bad feeling would result. ’ Journal of Political Economy, May, 1913.