Application of Scientific Man-agement. 413 



By "case preparation" is meant all those activities which pre- 

 cede the final dictating of a report or letter. In a supervisor's 

 office this would include a wide range of subjects from such com- 

 paratively simple matters as the location of a sheep driveway to 

 elaborate reports like those on questions of forest management. 

 Although unlike in substance their method of preparation is identi- 

 cal. First the main points at issue must be determined, all sub- 

 sidiary questions arranged in their proper perspective, the data 

 collected to answer the points at issue, and definite conclusions 

 reached in regard to them. 



Under the heading "conference" is included the time spent in 

 answering callers, and conferring with associates. 



The terms "dictation and signing mail" need no explanation 

 other than to say that they are restricted to the time actually 

 spent in dictation and signing and do not include any case pre- 

 paration. 



Having detennined the main divisions of a supervisor's time 

 there follows next a list of the items which need to be investigated 

 by the scientific method under the three main divisions of case 

 preparation, conference and dictation. It is to be regretted that 

 instead of a mere list of what needs to be investigated it is not 

 possible to give the results of such studies, but there has not been 

 time enough to complete the long investigations which will need 

 to be made before definite conclusions can be reached in regard 

 to some of the items. An outline of the points to be studied, how- 

 ever, will illustrate what should be done. 



Analysis of Case Preparation. 



Sequence of time activities. 



How long will the task take? 



It what order should the parts be considered? 



What degree of polish will the time available justify? 



During what part of the day should it be considered? 

 Equipment. 



Is the light good and from the right direction? 



Is the ventilation good ? 



Is the desk appropriate for the task 



Does the chair give proper support? 



Are the writing materials adequate and well arranged? 



Are the reference data like files, books, card catalogues, and maps 

 adequate and well arranged? 

 Straight line methods. 



Has the main issue been determined? 



Have the side issues and distractions been eliminated? 



