Explain the technique of 'functional foremanship' and the concept of 'mental revolution' as enunciated by Taylor.
Explain the technique of 'functional foremanship' and the concept of 'mental revolution' as enunciated by Taylor.
Functional foremanship It is an extension of the principle of division of labour, resulting in specialisation. According to Taylor, a single worker or supervisor cannot be expected to be an expert in all aspects. Thus, he advocated the appointment of eight foremen to guide workers, under planning and production departments. Under the planning in charge, there are four personnel:
(i) Route clerk: He is responsible to specify the route of production.
(ii) Instruction card clerk: He is responsible to give instructions to the workers.
(iii) Time and cost clerk: He is responsible to prepare time and cost sheets.
(iv) Disciplinarian: He is responsible to maintain discipline among workers.
Under the production in charge, there are four personnel:
(i) Speed boss: He is responsible for the timely completion of the job.
(ii) Gang-boss: He is responsible for keeping machines and tools ready for work.
(iii) Repair boss: He is responsible to keep machines and tools in proper working condition.
(iv) Inspector: He is responsible to maintain the quality of work.
Mental revolution: It involves a change in the attitude of workers and management. Both should realise the importance of the other and should cooperate with each other. Both should aim to increase the size of the surplus. Managers should share their gains with workers, while workers should contribute to increasing profits. This attitude will bring prosperity to both, the company as well as the workers.
Functional foremanship It is an extension of the principle of division of labour, resulting in specialisation. According to Taylor, a single worker or supervisor cannot be expected to be an expert in all aspects. Thus, he advocated the appointment of eight foremen to guide workers, under planning and production departments. Under the planning in charge, there are four personnel:
(i) Route clerk: He is responsible to specify the route of production.
(ii) Instruction card clerk: He is responsible to give instructions to the workers.
(iii) Time and cost clerk: He is responsible to prepare time and cost sheets.
(iv) Disciplinarian: He is responsible to maintain discipline among workers.
Under the production in charge, there are four personnel:
(i) Speed boss: He is responsible for the timely completion of the job.
(ii) Gang-boss: He is responsible for keeping machines and tools ready for work.
(iii) Repair boss: He is responsible to keep machines and tools in proper working condition.
(iv) Inspector: He is responsible to maintain the quality of work.
Mental revolution: It involves a change in the attitude of workers and management. Both should realise the importance of the other and should cooperate with each other. Both should aim to increase the size of the surplus. Managers should share their gains with workers, while workers should contribute to increasing profits. This attitude will bring prosperity to both, the company as well as the workers.
