The Effect of Psychological Handicap in Two Factory Groups

Abstract

This paper describes one of a series of investigations to determine the effect of psychological handicap on productivity and occupational adjustment. Two independent groups of apparently healthy conveyor assembly workers were studied. Each member of the group was examined medically and psychologically and these findings were considered in relation to the productivity and absenteeism of the two groups. The GroupsThe groups were in a factory making lead accumulators. The factory has been established for over 50 years in an industrial area near Manchester, and is the largest manufacturing unit in a coordinated group of firms. The labour is drawn from a community which has a wide range of acquired techniques and a long industrial tradition.The groups were responsible for the final assembly of batteries; each contained some 28 men and women and a charge-hand. The charge-hands were responsible to the same foreman.The groups cannot be considered to be in any sense a random collection of people as they were formed by a continuous process of selection; indeed, the selection may have resulted in a concentration of men and women with broadly similar characteristics.Methods of StudyThe investigation was made during three periods in 1949. During the first period, from January to March, preliminary assessments of productivity were made before the groups were aware of the project.During the second period, from March to June, workers were interviewed and examined. On Wednesday of each week batteries of the same type were allotted to the groups for assembly to compare their output as accurately as possible.In the third period, from October to December, the charge-hands were transposed in order to measure the effect of the changed supervision on productivity and absenteeism. More than 30 different types of battery were being assembled. This involved the groups in frequent changes in working methods, and made it necessary to use a performance index as a measure of output. Group working in the factory has been valued by accepted " work-study " techniques. Earnings are calculated for each day on the basis of a performance index which is the result of dividing " work-minutes" by actual clock minutes and multiplying by 100. "Work-minutes " are the product of the number of pieces completed and the standard time allowed for each piece. Time allowances are added for delays in production due to changing types of work, lack of materials, mechanical breakdowns, washing, preparing the work place, time sheet recording, etc. In this enquiry a performance index without any of these additions was used to measure the output of those working on conveyors A and B (Group A and Group B). An actual count of comparable units was not found to be practicable.A record of each worker's life history was made, and included details of habits, previous health, work experience, recent social circumstances, and health; their attitudes, moods, and sociability were also assessed. Special attention was paid to persistence in the face of difficulties and perseveranc...

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