Question

Explain the technique of ‘Functional Foremanship’ and the concept of ‘Mental Revolution’ as enunciated by Taylor.

Answer 1

Functional foremanship is a technique given by Taylor to free the workers from the burden of planning and concentrating on production. He suggested the division of the factory into two parts of the planning department and production department. There must be a functional expert leading the department who would supervise and give orders to the workers. Every person would be specialized in one aspect of the work.

The planning department would consist of the following people:

a. Instructional card clerk who would give instructions to the worker.

b. Route clerk to show the route of production.

c. Time and cost club to take care of the time and cost.

d. Discipline area would ensure that discipline is being maintained

The production department would consist of the following people:

a. Speed boss to ensure timely completion of the task.

b. Gang Boss to keep the Machines ready for the workers.

c. Repair Boss to ensure the proper working on the Machines

d. Inspector to control the quality of the work done

Mental revolution: Mental Revolution refers to the understanding that both the workers and management are important for one another. Only if they work together in harmony and peace, the goals of the organisation can be achieved smoothly.

It has three major objectives:

a. Developing a sense of cooperation between the workers and the management.

b. Changing the mental attitude of the worker and management towards each other.

c. Eliminating any feeling of suspicion from the minds of both the worker and the management and adopt a systematic method of Thinking.