Techniques of scientific management

Standardisation fixes standards of quality method and tools. Exam tip: remember fixed standards.

Simplification reduces unnecessary varieties. Exam tip: connect variety reduction with simplification.

Method study finds the best work method. Exam tip: choose method study when best method is indicated.

Motion study analyses a worker’s physical movements while performing a task and focuses on eliminating unnecessary movements. This reduces time, effort and fatigue, thereby improving efficiency. Reducing customer complaints relates to quality control or customer service, not motion study. Exam tip: link motion study with simplifying work by removing unnecessary movements.

Fatigue study fixes proper rest intervals. Exam tip: choose fatigue study when you see rest interval.

This system gives different wage rates based on efficiency. Exam tip: remember performance based wage.

Same quality level is an example of standardisation. Exam tip: connect quality standard with standardisation.

Simplification is the technique of reducing unnecessary variety while retaining the useful features or choices required by customers and production. In this case, the company removes excessive colour options and keeps only a practical, useful selection. That is exactly simplification, so option C is correct. Method study examines and improves the sequence or method of performing a job. Motion study analyses worker movements to eliminate unnecessary motions. A speed boss is a production-side supervisor concerned with maintaining an appropriate work pace; it is not a technique for reducing product variety. Therefore the clue is the deliberate removal of needless options.

Method study is useful for finding the best way of the whole process. Exam tip: connect process improvement with method study.

Motion study examines the movements made by a worker while performing a task and seeks to eliminate unnecessary motions, delays, and physical effort. Placing tools close to the worker reduces the distance travelled by the hands, so it is a direct example of improving the movement pattern. Therefore option A, motion study, is correct. Time study measures how long a qualified worker should take to complete a task under specified conditions; it does not primarily classify hand distance. Standardisation fixes uniform specifications for tools, materials, or methods, while simplification reduces unnecessary variety. The decisive clue here is the reduction of hand movement.

Measuring time with a stopwatch is a common clue of time study. Exam tip: connect stopwatch with time study.

When mistakes increase due to fatigue fatigue study is useful. Exam tip: connect mistakes due to tiredness with fatigue study.

Higher rate for higher output is differential piece wage system. Exam tip: remember higher output higher rate.

Fatigue study is one of the main techniques of work study. Exam tip: remember method motion time fatigue together.

Work study is a scientific management technique that includes method study, motion study, time study and fatigue study. These help identify the best method of work, eliminate unnecessary movements, set standard time and determine the need for rest. Advertising, selling, banking and taxation are business functions, not components of work study. Exam tip: remember the four studies in order—method, motion, time and fatigue.

Standard output is found by dividing total available time by the time required per unit: \(350 \div 7 = 50\). Therefore, 50 units can be produced in 350 minutes. Producing 45 units would take only \(45 \times 7 = 315\) minutes, so it is not the standard output for the available time. Exam tip: in time-study numericals, use standard output = total available time ÷ time per unit.

The direct answer is option A, higher rate. This question refers to Taylor’s differential piece-rate system. First compare actual output with the standard: the worker produces 75 units, while the standard is 70 units. Since 75 is greater than 70, the worker has exceeded the standard. Under the stated incentive principle, a worker who reaches or exceeds the standard may receive the higher piece rate, rewarding better performance. Option A, higher rate, is correct because production is above the standard. Option B, lower rate, is wrong in this system because the lower rate is associated with output below the standard. Option C, zero rate, is wrong because the worker has produced units and is not automatically unpaid. Option D, bank rate, is wrong because it is an interest-related financial term, not a wage rate in a production incentive scheme. The word “may” is important because the exact wage still depends on the organisation’s announced rules and rates. The exam cue is simple: above standard means higher incentive rate; below standard means lower rate, when the differential piece-rate system is being discussed.

Under Taylor’s differential piece-wage system, the standard separates higher-rate performance from lower-rate performance. The standard here is 80 units, but the worker produces only 72 units. Because 72 is less than 80, the output is below the prescribed standard, so the lower rate applies; option B is correct. The higher rate is reserved for output at or above the required level according to the stated scheme, while double rate is not automatically implied by missing the standard. “No rate” is also incorrect because a worker who produces below standard is normally paid the lower applicable piece rate. The conclusion follows directly from comparing 72 and 80.

Keeping machines proper is the work of repair boss. Exam tip: connect machine repair with repair boss.

The correct answer is the Speed boss. In Taylor’s functional foremanship, the speed boss ensures that workers maintain an appropriate pace of work and that machines or tools do not unnecessarily slow production. The route clerk decides the sequence and route of work, whereas the time and cost clerk maintains time and cost records. Exam tip: Link questions about work speed or slow output with the Speed boss.

Disciplinarian handles rule following and discipline. Exam tip: connect rule breaking with discipline.

Writing work instructions is the work of instruction card clerk. Exam tip: connect written instruction with this role.

The direct answer is C, Inspector. In scientific management, inspection means checking the quality of completed goods. The inspector examines finished units, finds defective units, separates them, and helps ensure that only acceptable goods move forward. Option A, Route clerk, plans the route and order in which work should pass through departments; this role does not mainly check finished quality. Option B, Speed boss, guides the speed of work and helps workers maintain the planned pace; identifying defects is not his principal duty. Option C, Inspector, is correct because checking finished goods and detecting defective units is exactly the inspection function. Option D, Disciplinarian, maintains discipline and proper conduct; this does not mean testing product quality. Memory cue: defective product means inspection, so connect it with inspector.

Preparation of material and tools is linked with gang boss. Exam tip: connect work setup with gang boss.

Standardisation means establishing and using uniform specifications for products, parts, tools, materials, or methods. When parts are made and used in the same size, they conform to a predetermined specification and can be used consistently or replaced easily. Thus option B, standardisation, is correct. Simplification reduces unnecessary variety, but the direct clue in this question is conformity to one uniform size. Fatigue study examines rest pauses and the effect of work on worker tiredness. Differential wages provide different payment rates based on performance relative to a standard; they do not determine the physical size of parts. The phrase “uniform size” therefore identifies standardisation.