The video starts by talking about the greatness of scientific managment, invented by Frederick windslow Taylor, but it fails to mention that taylor also brought about the demise of skilled labor by breaking down every possible production process into simple tasks. His invention was the assembly line, and although we see it as a novel concept it was the most innovative idea anyone had come up with EVER in relation to production. It was “the science of production”.
Unfortunately this science had some horrible after effects. Think about what we just saw today in the video Alfred showed us… the guy outlined three essential characteristics that make “better” workers; Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose. How do you think someone feels who stands on an assembly line all day screwing a screw into a bolt for 8 hours a day… every day… for years. Not much autonomy. And not much pride in the mastery of such a simple task and defiantly no sense of purpose.
Taylorism was a catalyst for the growth business AND the beginning of the fall of autonomy, mastery and purpose. (we're JUST NOW realizing this and trying to get back to it)
But we must recognize what the assembly line did for us.. just as the video shows, it allowed for Ford Motors to produce cars for everyone… those same cars that are destroying our environment with pollution and destroying our economy through our dependence on oil (not to mention starting wars over oil prices- yes that’s the real reason for the war in Iraq- if you don’t believe me go watch “Fahrenheit 9-11”).
Oh and it wasn’t just ford motors… like the video says this allowed Henry Ford to “reap the financial rewards of his market”. Yes, that’s exactly what this did, it gave one man WAY too much money. This soon became quite appealing to other businessmen and before long we created an elite class of super-rich businessmen and a resulting HUGE class of poor working class families.
Great, I’m so glad taylor invented the assembly line.
So lets move on… yes the japan example was good, and it’s true, japan was very smart and they did some great work with Toyota, the video is correct there.
Next the video talks about wal-mart, I don’t think I have to say anything, we all know Wal-Mart is evil and would eat your children for breakfast if it could.
But more to the point… because all that was just about the history of revenue, the video is really all about the future of revenue…
So this concept of RPM… yea, that’s the future of FAILURE as a society.
No I’m not stupid, I understand that RPM actually works, but what is it working FOR?
It’s working to drive up revenue in our economy, its working to build larger corporations who control more of the world. It’s working to help greedy corporations come up with smart ideas to trick consumers into buying more shit they don’t need.
OK I'M NOT A TOTAL DEBBIE-DOWNER
I agree 100% with the message that “ideas matter”. Ideas are the most important thing in the world. But it’s also important to constantly be critical of what people are telling you and weed out the truth. Don’t be fooled, revenue is evil, we need ideas to help us evolve to an economy that is no longer based on revenue but rather based on ideas.
This is exactly what we were learning from the video Alfred showed us today- it’s not all about money. You pay people more and performance goes down! We need ways to promote Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose both in the workplace and among the people of the world (i.e. the consumers). I’m not saying I know how to do this, but I am saying that pushing for more revenue is not the way. And that’s what captain planet has to say! haha
p.s. sorry for shooting down your video Ellie, but its actually really good that you posted it because it can help us think of new ideas. And I really do love it’s central message that ideas are what drive the world. I hope I didn’t insult you or anything I just wanted to point out all the history behind the claims it was making.
-gilad
(Truth)fully? I believe a lot of good came out of the assembly line idea. And it will still continue to be utilized to manage skilled labor - and there is always the need for skilled labor (until robots can finally take over the skilled labor, and humans can prosper, or other such fantasies not to come for a few more years). It has also created the environment (both good and bad aspects) that we enjoy, or criticize every day.
ReplyDeleteAutonomy creativity all are great, but who does the skilled labor to make the computers we need, or paper to draw on? or build designs?
In any case, does that matter at all?
Knowing what we know now, things of the past can always be explained. Toyota now, in my opinion, shows how anybody is susceptible to failure. They became sloppy as they grew.
Knowing what we know now, all that matters to me is 'how can i make this different' or how will I make this world mine?
I believe there are both truth and lies to everything and both sides usually have convincing arguments.
revenue can be good because it has allowed us to live the life we do now, and be aware of it to this degree
Agreed, 100%, my whole point is saying what i did was to show both sides of the issue. You need to see as many side of an issue as you can.
ReplyDeleteAlso related to this, history is extremly important. no this cant be changed anymore, it happened in the past, it's done. BUT its SUPER important to understand how and why it happened so we can learn from it. WE need history in order to move forward, otherwise we risk repeating mistakes.