The Psychology of Management by Lillian Moller Gilbreth

The advantages of a study of psychology itself, as it applies to the field of teaching in general, and of teaching in the industries in particular, are apparent. Such study must, in the future, become more and more prevalent. ADVANTAGE OF FUNCTIONAL FOREMAN-TEACHER OVER TEACHER IN THE SCHOOLS.--The Functional Foreman-teacher has an advantage over the teacher in the school in that the gap between him and those he teaches is not so great. He knows, because he remembers, exactly how the worker must have his information presented to him. This gap is narrowed by functionalizing the oral teaching, by using it merely as a supplement to the written teaching, and by supplementing it with object-lessons. TEACHER MUST HAVE PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRADE HE IS TO TEACH.--The teacher must have an intimate practical knowledge of the art or trade that he is to teach. The most profound knowledge of Psychology will never be a substitute for the mastery of the trade, as a condition precedent to turning out the best craftsmen. This is provided for by securing teachers from the ranks of the workers.[7] HE MUST HAVE A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE STANDARDS.--He must have more than the traditional knowledge of the trade that he is to teach; he must have also the knowledge that comes only from scientific investigation of his trade. This knowledge is ready and at hand, in the standards of Scientific Management that are available to all for study. HE MUST BE CONVINCED OF THE VALUE OF THE METHODS HE TEACHES.--The teacher must also have an intimate acquaintance with the records of output of the method he is to teach as compared with those of methods held in high esteem by the believer in the old methods; for it is a law that no teacher can be efficient in teaching any method in which he does not believe, any more than a salesman can do his best work when he does not implicitly believe in the goods that he is selling. HE MUST BE AN ENTHUSIAST.--The best teacher is the one who is an enthusiast on the subject of the work itself, who can cause contagion or imitation of his state of mind, by love of the problems themselves. SUCH ENTHUSIASM CONTAGIOUS.--It is the contagion of this enthusiasm that will always create a demand for teachers, no matter how perfect instruction cards may become. There is no form or device of management that does away with good men, and in the teacher, as here described, is conserved the personal element of the successful, popular Traditional foreman. VALUABLE TEACHER INTERESTS MEN IN THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT.--The most valuable teacher is one who can arouse his pupils to such a state of interest in the economic values of the methods of Scientific Management, that all other objects that would ordinarily distract or hold their attention will be banished from their minds. They will then remember each step as it is introduced, and they will be consumed with interest and curiosity to know what further steps can be introduced, that will still further eliminate waste. OBJECT-LESSON MAY BE "WORKING MODELS."--The object-lesson may be a "fixed exhibit" or a "working model," "a process in different stages," or "a micro-motion study film" of the work that is to be done. Successful and economical teaching may be done with such models, which are especially valuable where the workers do not speak the same language as the teacher, where many workers are to perform exactly similar work, or where the memory, the visualizing and the constructive imagination, are so poor that the models must be referred to constantly. Models naturally appeal best to those who take in information easiest through the eyes. OBJECT-LESSONS MAY BE DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE TEACHER.--The teacher may demonstrate the method manually to the worker, or by means of films showing synthesized right methods on the motion-picture screen. This, also, is a successful method of teaching those who speak a different language, or of explaining new work,--though it calls for a better memory than does the "working model," The model, however, shows desired results; the demonstration, desired methods. DEMONSTRATION METHOD CHIEF METHOD OF TEACHING BY FOREMEN.--The manual demonstration method is the chief method of teaching the workmen by the foremen under Scientific Management, and no method is rated as standard that cannot be successfully demonstrated by the teacher, at any time, on request. WORKER MAY DEMONSTRATE UNDER SUPERVISION.--If the worker is of that type that can learn only by actually doing the work himself, he is allowed to demonstrate the method under supervision of the teacher.[8] TEACHING ALWAYS AVAILABLE UNDER SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT.--Under Scientific Management all of these forms of teaching are available constantly. The instruction card and accompanying illustrations are given to the worker before he starts to work, and are so placed that he can consult them easily at any time during the work. As, also, if object-lessons are used, they are given before work commences, and repeated when necessary. The teacher is constantly available for oral instruction, and the systems are constantly available for consultation. METHODS OF TEACHING UNDER SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT PSYCHOLOGICALLY RIGHT.--In order to prove that teaching under Scientific Management is most valuable, it is necessary to show that it is psychologically right, that it leads to mental development and improvement. Under Scientific Management, teaching,--