3. Rational work design Flashcards
Frederick Taylor
One of the prominent pioneers of efficient rational work design, Taylor developed the system of ‘scientific management’
Henry Ford
Created systems of mass automobile production with the moving assembly line
Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
Known for developing the time and motion study and ergonomic work design
Karl Marx
A philosopher who commented on the inequalities of power between capital and workers and the alienating effects of capitalist work upon workers
Harry Braverman
Developed the deskilling thesis that criticised the loss of craft skills under rational production methods
Rational work design
The techniques developed by Taylor and Ford, work is designed to achieve maximum efficiency
Capitalist working relationship
The relationship between capitalists who pay wages and labour who work for those wages
Scientific management
Work is broken down into small tasks which are designed to be performed in the most efficient manner possible
Fordism
The worker remains stationary in front of a moving assembly line and repeats the same task
Deskilling
Braverman (1974), the loss of craft skills when workers jobs are simplified
Efficiency
Getting more output from the same amount of input
Alienation
Negative impact of rational work design, isolating them from their skills, the final product and their coworkers
Division of labour
Breaking down a job into simple individual tasks
Economies of scale
Cost reduction from producing a product in large amounts
Craft knowledge
Knowledge of a particular skill, the result of a long period of training
Soldiering
Workers creating time for themselves during the working day, not efficient
One best way
Techniques that propose the one most efficient way to perform any task
Time and motion study
Tasks are measured and timed and redesigned to maximise efficiency
Ergonomics
The design of workplace environments and tools to but fit the movements of the human body
Separation of planning and doing
Tasks designed by management, with workers having no input other than to perform those tasks
Mass production
The production of a large volume, often making use of an assembly line
Collective action
Any form of resistance against management taken by a group of workers
