Chapter 7 Exam Review Study Guide
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of standardization(specialization) in the production environment
Advantage: For management: Simplifies training High productivity Low wage costs For employees: Low education and skill requirements Minimum responsibilities Little mental effort needed PG. 298
Describe behavioral approaches to job design
Consider job enlargement, job rotation, job enrichment, and increased use of mechanization. -Job enlargement means giving a worker a larger portion of the total task. -Job rotation means having workers periodically exchange jobs. -Job enrichment involves an increase in the level of responsibility for planning and coordination tasks. PG.299
Discuss the disadvantages of standardization(specialization) in the production environment
Disadvantage: For management: Difficult to motivate quality Worker dissatisfaction, possibly resulting in absenteeism, high turnover, disruptive tactics, poor attention to quality For employees: Monotonous work Limited opportunities for advancement Little control over work Little opportunity for self-fulfillment PG. 298
Compare and contrast the two basic approaches to job design
Efficiency school: Emphasizes a systematic, logical approach to job design. It's a refinement of Frederick Winslow Taylor's scientific management concepts. Behavioral school: Emphasizes satisfaction of wants and needs PG. 298
Explain the purpose of the method analysis and describe how methods studies are performed
Methods analysis: focuses on how a job is done. -Methods analysis can be a good source of productivity improvements. 1) Identify the operation to be studied, and gather all pertinent facts about tools, equipment, materials, and so on. 2) For existing jobs, discuss the job with the operator and supervisor to get their input. 3) Study and document the present method of an existing job using process charts. For new jobs, develop charts based on information about the activities involved. 4) Analyze the job. 5) Propose new methods. 6) Install the new methods. 7)Follow up implementation to assure that improvements have been achieved. Pg. 307
Explain the importance of work design
The importance of work design is underscored by an organization's dependence on human efforts (i.e., work) to accomplish its goals. Pg. 297-298 (Section 7.2)
