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)