Selling Production to the Management

Abstract

THE purpose of this paper is to help the manager to a stronger realization of his responsibility for production. To raise the question of selling production to the management of an industrial enterprise may seem preposterous to some. Who of all agencies is responsible for production if not the management? That is a fundamental assumption of economic thinking. Who of all agencies in this period of post-war concern is urging greater production? It is the managers in industry. Yet a fundamental economic assumption may become so commonplace as to cease to be a motivating influence, and strong urging may be accompanied by an inertia and an unwillingness to exert one's self to accomplish that which one desires. It too frequently means Let George do George being, in the minds of many managers, the foremen and the workers. It is not to be denied that the foremen and the workers have a responsibility to strive for greater production. There is evidence that they are beginning to think about it, and here and there to advocate it, but as yet not in a whole-hearted way and with constructive plans. Possibly they too are acting under fundamental assumptions; for instance, that for some reason it is not expedient to give more than enough to hold the job; possibly their demand for greater production is only a feint to cover other purposes; possibly they, too, believe in leaving it to George, he