E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, David M, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by (Internet Archive (https://archive.org) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 46977-h.htm or 46977-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/46977/pg46977-images.html) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46977/46977-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/rationalwagessys00atkirich A RATIONAL WAGES SYSTEM Some Notes on the Method of Paying the Worker a Reward for Efficiency in Addition to Wages by HENRY ATKINSON Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Engineer Expert to the Mixed Tribunal, Cairo London G. Bell and Sons, Ltd. 1917 PREFACE The question of scientific management, or the replacement of guesswork by a common-sense study of the principles in economical and efficient production, has not received the consideration it deserves in this country; but one effect of the war has been to show the possibilities of increasing production by a scientific study of factory methods. I believe that a much greater amount of interest will be taken in the subject in future, and the fact that co-operation between the management and the workers is the first essential to success cannot be too strongly emphasised. From my own personal experience of its installation in England, I can only say that, when approached broad-mindedly by both sides, the workers have nothing to fear and, indeed, everything to gain by it. This description by Mr. Atkinson should prove very useful in bringing the principles of one branch of scientific management, that branch which most nearly affects the workers, to the notice of all concerned in efficiency methods, and it is to be hoped that it will prepare the way for a better understanding between employer and worker. H. W. ALLINGHAM, M.I.MECH.E. INTRODUCTORY It is universally admitted that the war will bring about great changes in industry. The readjustment of financial affairs, the greatly increased taxation, the displacement of labour due to the employment of men now at the front, the dilution of labour by the employment of women, the development of new industries and the modification of present ones in order to meet new markets, changes in the old methods of manufacturing and trading, will all add to the difficulties of the situation. Some of the greatest of these difficulties will be in connection with Labour, and the trade-unions will be faced with problems the solution of which will tax their ingenuity and statecraft to the utmost.