Mr. George Iles in that most interesting and instructive of books, "Inventors at Work," [15] has pointed out the importance, to development in any line of progress or science, of measuring devices and methods. Contemporaneous with, or previous to, the discovery of the device or method, must come the discovery or determination of the most profitable unit of measurement which will, of itself, best show the variations in efficiency from class. When Dr. Taylor discovered units of measurement for determining, prior to performance, the amount of any kind of
work that a worker could do and the amount of rest he must have during the performance of that work, then, and not until then, did management become a science. On this hangs the science of management.[16]
Outline of Method of Investigation. — In the discussion of each of the nine divisions of Scientific Management, the following topics must be treated:
1. Definition of the division and its underlying idea.
2. Appearance and importance of the idea in Traditional and Transitory Management.
3. Appearance and importance of the idea in Scientific Management.
4. Elements of Scientific Management which show the effects of the idea.
5. Results of the idea upon work and workers.
These topics will be discussed in such order as the particular division investigated demands. The psychological significance of the appearance or non-appearance of the idea, and of the effect of the idea, will be noted. The results will be summarized at the close of each chapter, in order to furnish data for drawing conclusions at the close of the discussion.
Conclusions to be Reached. — These conclusions will include the following: —