Question

Explain the following technique of scientific management:

Motion study

Explain the following term/concept. 

Motion Study

Explain the following techniques of scientific management:

Time Study

Briefly explain any three of the following techniques of Scientific Management as given by F.W. Taylor:

1. Method study
2. Functional foremanship
3. Standardization
4. Differential piece wage system

Describe the different techniques of scientific management?

What are the techniques of scientific management according to F.W. Taylor?

Write short note on the following.
Techniques of scientific management

Explain the following techniques of scientific management:

Simplification of work

Describe any four techniques of scientific management.

Explain the following term/concept.

Fatigue Study

‘Fatigue Study” as a technique of scientific management.

Explain the following technique of scientific management:

Method Study

Explain any two techniques of Scientific Management from the following:

1. Method study
2. Motion study
3. Time study

Answer 1

Techniques of Scientific Management given by F.W. Taylor:

1. Work-Study: Before assigning the work to the available workforce, management should do proper work-study. Work-study consists of an organized, systematic, and critical assessment of the various activities or functions. Work-study is based on techniques such as time study, motion study, method study, and fatigue study.
   
   1. Time Study: This technique helps a manager to calculate the time required to perform a particular job. He can decide on the production or completion of an activity with the help of this technique. The time study is based on the speed of the average worker. Every part of the total work is studied in detail and the time required to perform that job is calculated. This lets the manager ascertain the standard time to complete a specific job. Based on this, the manager can decide the remuneration to be paid to the worker.
   2. Method Study: There are always various methods for completing the task. For best quality and cost-effectiveness, identifying the best way of doing a particular job is a very important but challenging task for a manager.
   3. Motion Study: Motion study is the close study of body movements. That is the movement of hands, legs and other body parts. Managers should study these movements. This study helps the manager to understand the actions required for a person to do a particular task. The manager can use this technique to eliminate unnecessary job movements. With the help of motion study, the manager can eliminate or combine some actions in the process. Motion study increases the efficiency and productivity of the employees.
   4. Fatigue Study: Generally, long working hours without sufficient breaks, target pressure, heavy working tools, and poor working conditions result in physical and mental stress, i.e., fatigue. The study of fatigue and steps to reduce the level of fatigue is very important to maintain the operational efficiency of the employees.
2. Standardization: Standardization in production implies (i) selecting the standard tools and equipment for production and (ii) maintaining standard working conditions at the place of work. The management should provide good-quality tools and equipment used to produce good quality. This helps the workers to perform the job quickly and efficiently. This technique minimizes the cost and makes the best use of available resources.
3. Simplification of Work: Simplification aims at eliminating superfluous varieties, sizes and dimensions, while standardisation implies devising new varieties instead of the existing ones. Simplification aims at eliminating unnecessary diversity of products. It results in savings on the cost of labour, machines and tools. It implies reduced inventories, fuller utilisation of equipment and increasing turnover. Large companies like Nokia, Toyota, and Microsoft have successfully implemented standardisation and simplification. This is evident from their large share in their respective markets.
4. Scientific Task Setting: Taylor emphasized the need for fixing a fair day's work. A scientific work setting is vital to prevent employees from doing work much below their capacity. By using this technique, employees will complete the task according to the standards given and management can control the optimum workforce utilisation properly.
5. Scientific Selection and Training: Using scientific selection procedures, management can select the right persons for the right jobs. It needs to fix job specifications as per requirement. Employees are selected according to predetermined standards in an impartial way. After selection, management should provide the proper training programs to increase efficiency.
6. Functional Organization: This technique refers to the guidance given to the worker by a specialist foreman. According to this technique, a single worker is supervised by different supervisors. For doing a particular job, the worker performs various small tasks. While doing this job, he will get guidance and be supervised by different superiors for each task. This technique is exactly the opposite of Fayol's principle of a unit of command. According to Fayol, there should be one boss for workers, but according to this technique, there can be many supervisors for one worker. They are categorized as follows:
   
   1. At the Planning Level:
      
      1. Route clerk tells how work moves from one machine to another.
      2. Instruction clerk records instructions to complete the job.
      3. Time and cost clerk determines the time in which work should be completed and works out the cost.
      4. Discipline ensures that the workers work as per factory rules.
   2. At the Implementation Level:
      
      1. Gang boss gets the work done.
      2. Speed boss ensures the work is completed within a specified time.
      3. Repair boss handles the security and maintenance of the mechanism.
      4. Inspector provides that the work is done per the specified standards.
7. Differential Piece-Rate Wage Plan: Remuneration should be fixed to motivate the average worker to attain a standard output. Taylor suggested the differential piece-wage system. Higher rates are offered to employees who complete the work more than the standard quantity under this system. On the other hand, if an employee is performing below the standard, he shall be given a lower rate of wages. This technique motivates employees to attain higher performance and earn wages.
8. Other Techniques: In addition to the above techniques, some other methods are also suggested by Taylor. They include the use of instruction cards, strict rules of discipline, charts, graphs, slides, charts to instruct the workers, etc. these techniques are also used to develop better relations between employers and employees.