The Changing Nature of Work Section 8.4

Objectives At the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Identify 2 reasons why Ford raised worker wages Define and identify at least 4 “thrifty habits” and reasons why Ford pushed them Define Assembly Line and its pros and cons Define “Ford Whisper” Identify Frederick Taylor and define scientific management

Who was Frederick Taylor? Wrote The Principles of Scientific Management Encouraged Ergonomics –broke each operation down to the quickest, most efficient method of performance and set standards Used cash incentives for workers to meet standards Adopted by auto industry

Big Question What is Tom Hanks trying to do? Why is he upset when he opens the package? Scientific Management/Assembly Line

Who was Henry Ford? Industrialists car manufacturer Inventor of the Assembly Line Saw workers as a consumer –Doubled worker wages to $5 a day $2 considered good

What were Ford’s Thrifty Habits? Attempted to shape their behavior “Thrifty Habits” –Must learn English, take co advise, not gamble, drink, or engage in immoral behavior Ford called “traitor to his class” –Reduced hrs. from 48 (6 days a week) to 40 (5 days a week) Earned $264 thousand per day in 1922 Allowed for low skilled or no skilled –Hired handicapped, immigrants, ex-convicts

What is the Assembly Line? Slow moving conveyer belt process where individual workers performed 1 basic, simple task over and over –Ergonomic Designed to fit human body’s movement Worked at waist level –Ford’s moved 6ft. Per minute

What was work like on the Assembly Line? Repetitive and boring Each worker responsible for tiny part of total job Worked at pace set by the assembly line Little skill/thought required Robot=Czech word –Man who acts like a machine or vice versa

What was the Ford Whisper? Workers forbidden from leaning, sitting, squatting, singing, talking, whistling and smiling “Ford Whisper” –communicated without moving their lips

Who was Frederick Taylor? Wrote The Principles of Scientific Management Encouraged Ergonomics –broke each operation down to the quickest, most efficient method of performance and set standards Used cash incentives for workers to meet standards Adopted by auto industry

Conclusion Ford and Taylor’s new methods of production had a profound impact of business. Consider where their ideas are used today. WAWA, Genuardi’s, Business Offices, UPS, Federal Express, auto industry