12 



Thus, it will be seen, the Rowan system is more favourable to the 

 workman when more than half the time allowed is taken for the job 

 (i.e., in ordinary cases) ; but as soon as the half-way point is passed, 

 the Halsey system is immensely more favourable. Similarly till the 

 half-way point, the cost per piece is greater to the employer under the 

 Rowan system ; but when that point is passed, the Rowan system 

 offers him an enormous advantage. 



Under the Halsey system, it is in theory possible for the workman 

 to earn five times his time rate ; under the Rowan system he can 

 never reach double time, even if his productivity increases tenfold. 

 It is urged by employers that the Rowan system is to be preferred, 

 because it gives them less inducement to cut the rate when too long 

 a time has been allowed in the original fixing of the basis. This, how- 

 ever, seems to be an attempt to remove temptation out of the employer's 

 way by limiting rigidly the amount of wages a workman can earn. 



Under both forms of the premium bonus system there is a piece-rate 

 which falls sharply as the output increases. The guaranteed time-rate 

 is, however, in this case the actual rate paid for the standard output. 



A comparison of the above systems gives some curious results. The 

 claim of the advocates of Scientific Management is that they are 

 prepared to pay for output. ' Payments by results ' is the motto 

 inscribed upon their banners. Yet when we examine their systems, 

 we find that nowhere is the amount of payment exactly proportionate 

 to the work done, as in a pure piece-work system. Under Taylor's 

 system there are two piece-rates, with a sudden leap from the one 

 to the other when the standard output is reached. Under Gantt's 

 system, the piece-rate falls till the standard is reached, then rises slightly 

 and thereafter remains stationary. Under Emerson's system and under 

 the premium bonus system, the piece-rate falls continually. The four 

 may perhaps be represented thus : 



TAYLOR 



GANTT 



EMERSON 



HALSEY 



ROWAN 



Now, it must be remembered that the greater the output secured 

 by the employer in a given time from a given worker,especially a machine 

 worker, the less are the overhead charges per unit of the product. 

 The employer, therefore, under three of these systems secures a double 

 advantage : for he reduces his standing charges, and at the same time 

 pays the worker less per piece. It is difficult to see either rhyme or 

 reason in such a method of remuneration, except from the employer's 

 point of view. It can, indeed, only appear just to those whose minds 



