Fordism, Sociotechnical Systems, Toyodism and Future Systems

Question 1

Fordism Defined

Answer 1

• deskilling of work and rigid divisions of labor
• hierarchical management structure
• fixation on a mass market
• higher wages in return for high effort, loss of decision making, and less turnover
• reorganization of production departments along flow principles
• curbing of the independent authority of foremen and other low-level supervisors
• assemblers as interchangeable as parts
• activities simplified to the nth degree and controlled from above
• engineering and administrative functions delegated to staff specialists
• exercise of judgment passed up the managerial ranks
• alienated, regimented work conditions

Question 2

Fordism and Scientific Management

Answer 2

• science, not rule of thumb
• harmony, not discord (i.e. playing by management’s rules)
• cooperation, not individualism
• maximum output, in place of restricted output (“soldiering”)
• the development of each man to his greatest physical capability

Question 3

Advantages of the Sociotechnical System Teory

Answer 3

• innovation versus preserving the status quo
• development of human resources
• awareness of the external environment
• maximizing cooperative effort
• developing commitment and energy
• utilizing social and technical resources effectively

Question 4

Socio Technical System

Answer 4

Technical System:

Machinery, Processes, Procedures and Physical Arragement.

Social System: People, Habitual Attitudes, Values, Behavioral Styles and Relationships. INCLUDES THE REWARD SYSTEM.

Formal and Informal Organizational Charts

A manufacturing workcell that requires high team work will not produce in an environment of suspicion and command / control.

A self Directed work team will be ineffective when the layout of their area prevents communication or does not requires cooperation.

Question 5

Principles of the Sociotechnical System

Answer 5

Responsible autonomy[edit]
Adaptability
Whole tasks[edit]
Meaningfulness of tasks

task squarely on the shoulders of a single, small, face-to-face group which experiences the entire cycle of operations within the compass of its membership