The post office overseas parcels algorithm

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In our first issue Mr E. Phillips described the Post Office system for training counter clerks. He explained that the period of initial classroom instruction does not attempt to teach the whole of the job: some infrequently‐occurring items are not taught in the off‐the‐job training school but are learnt on‐the‐job as the occasion arises. Overseas parcels is one such item and the communication technique used by the trainer in this case is the algorithm. Here by way of illustration of how the technique applies to the clerical field is part of the actual algorithm used by the Post Office.