They Fear Work Study

In a labor intensive overstaffed factory it dawned on the mind of the management to measure the workload of workers engaged in stacking. The arrangement was on contract basis. The workers were stacking bags loaded with fertilizers. So a work study team was engaged. The team visited the site but was chased away by the militant workers. At the same time the management wanted the study report urgently. So one Jeeves devised an ingenious method to determine the time taken for different activities relating to stacking, on the production floor.

In the office, far away from the factory site, the team members rehearsed the various activities involved in stacking, visualizing the whole process in proper sequence. All operations were listed. One fellow pretended lifting the load, moving his limbs with imaginary load and another observed the time. Similarly all stages of work were simulated through visualization and time measurement effected. The data thus recorded were analyzed and the report submitted determining the actual number of men required.

This novel method of conducting work study without observing or studying work or involving workers became the standard to escape attacks and manhandling from militant workers. These workers enjoyed considerable political support through their union leaders. They believed in the concept of worker participation in management which according to them meant workers beating up the management for solving their problems. It was this fear that haunted the work study team.