Knowledge that Transforms

The reaction of a work group to a pay incentive plan is studied. An analysis of the employees’ attitudes reveals that they trust management, understand the plan, and see a close relationship between their pay and their performance. Based upon expectancy theory, it is hypothesised that because these conditions exist, the workers will respond directly to the economic payoff structure of the plan. In order to test this hypothesis, a mathematical model is developed to predict the productivity of the work group. The data show a high degree of fit between the model’s predictions and the actual productivity of the group. The implications of this for future research and for the design of incentive systems are discussed.

Rubinsky and Smith simulated accidents that could occur with the improper use of an offhand grinder, a common industrial machine. A source of possible injury inherent in the use of an off-hand grinder is the explosion of the grinding wheel. An unsuitable, unbalanced, or a cracked wheel will explode when subjected to the inertial forces imposed as it accelerates to its high rotational speed during normal operation. To avoid injury in the event of an exploding wheel, it is necessary only that the operator stand to the side of the machine, out of the plane of rotation of the grinding wheel during the startup phase of the grinding operation. When the wheel has attained its full operating speed, most of the danger of an exploding wheel has passed. This article describes three experiments using the device which simulates accidents involving such an exploding bench grinder wheel. Specifically, the use of accident simulations as a training method was compared to training by written instructions and demonstrations.