Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy in the Progressive Office, 1917- -1931 1931 in the Progressive Office, 1917 Thomas Haigh Thomas Haigh thaigh@acm.org www.tomandmaria.com www.tomandmaria.com/tom /tom thaigh@acm.org
Topic Topic � Relationship between Relationship between � th New administrative technologies of early 20 th � New administrative technologies of early 20 � century century and and � Office Management reform movement of Office Management reform movement of � 1910s and 1920s 1910s and 1920s 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 2 2
New Office Technology, New Office Technology, popularized 1890- -1910 1910 popularized 1890 � Typewriters Typewriters � � Bookkeeping machines Bookkeeping machines � � Dictating machines Dictating machines � � Vertical files Vertical files � � Adding machines Adding machines � � Addressing Machines Addressing Machines � � Calculating Machines Calculating Machines � � Punched card machines Punched card machines � 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 3 3
1: The Office Management 1: The Office Management Movement Movement
The Office Management Movement The Office Management Movement � Originated in 1910s Originated in 1910s � � First US textbook on office management c. 1914 First US textbook on office management c. 1914 � � National Office Management Association founded National Office Management Association founded � 1919 1919 � Recreation of Recreation of “ “head clerk head clerk” ” as powerful executive as powerful executive � � Use of Use of “ “scientific scientific” ” and and “ “systematic systematic” ” techniques by techniques by � experts experts � Reaction to influx of women to clerical posts? Reaction to influx of women to clerical posts? � � Related to Related to � � Increasing scale of American business Increasing scale of American business � � Systematic/Scientific Management movement Systematic/Scientific Management movement � � Personnel management movement Personnel management movement � 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 5 5
W.H. Leffingwell W.H. Leffingwell From an advertisement used to promote Leffingwell’s 1917 book Scientific Office Management 19 19- -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 6 6
Leffingwell’ ’s s System System Leffingwell � Explicitly derived from Explicitly derived from Taylorism Taylorism � � Careful layout of office, for efficient flow of work. Careful layout of office, for efficient flow of work. � � Division of tasks into simple units, scientific Division of tasks into simple units, scientific � measurement and analysis of each part to determine measurement and analysis of each part to determine “the one best way the one best way” ”. . “ � Standardization of all procedures, forms, letters, Standardization of all procedures, forms, letters, � equipment and personnel (test & train). equipment and personnel (test & train). � Use of appropriate machines and equipment to Use of appropriate machines and equipment to � maximize efficiency of each task. maximize efficiency of each task. � Payment of production bonus incentives to Payment of production bonus incentives to � supplement salaries. supplement salaries. 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 7 7
19 19- -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 8 8
Historical Treatment I Historical Treatment I � Labor & Social History Labor & Social History � � Large literature on women & office work Large literature on women & office work � � Davies, Strom, Davies, Strom, Rotella Rotella, Fine , Fine � � Leffingwell and Leffingwell and “ “Taylorization Taylorization” ” feature feature � prominently prominently � Departure point is Harry Departure point is Harry Braverman Braverman. Links . Links � � Deskilling and degradation of clerical work Deskilling and degradation of clerical work � � Feminization of clerical work Feminization of clerical work � � Mechanization of clerical work Mechanization of clerical work � 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 9 9
Historical Treatment II Historical Treatment II � Business history: Rise of big business Business history: Rise of big business � � Systematization as crucial managerial tool Systematization as crucial managerial tool � � New communication technologies crucial (Yates) New communication technologies crucial (Yates) � � Importance of new class of middle Importance of new class of middle � management (Chandler) management (Chandler) � Treated as fairly homogenous ( Treated as fairly homogenous (Zunz Zunz) ) � 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 10 10
The Executive Office Manager The Executive Office Manager ‘ ‘ 19 19- -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 11 11
Laying Claim to Organizational Laying Claim to Organizational Design Design “The strain put upon the office activities had The strain put upon the office activities had “ forced the management to remodel forced the management to remodel completely the organization - - in response to in response to completely the organization necessity.” ” necessity. Galloway, Office Management: Its Principles and Practice Office Management: Its Principles and Practice (Page 16) (Page 16) Galloway, 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 12 12
2: My Analytical Findings 2: My Analytical Findings
My Data My Data � Primarily from 1930 Primarily from 1930- -31 Women 31 Women’ ’s Bureau Survey s Bureau Survey � � Original notes from detailed visits Original notes from detailed visits � � Questions on machines used Questions on machines used � � Questions on office & personnel management Questions on office & personnel management � � 91 large offices in New York and Philadelphia 91 large offices in New York and Philadelphia � � Mean size: 580 clerical workers Mean size: 580 clerical workers � � Office workforce 43% female Office workforce 43% female � � Service sector firms Service sector firms � � Insurance, Utility, Publishing, Bank, Investment Insurance, Utility, Publishing, Bank, Investment � 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 14 14
My Findings: Technology My Findings: Technology � Office Machines widely used Office Machines widely used � � Bookkeeping: 74% Bookkeeping: 74% � � Calculating or Adding: 80% Calculating or Adding: 80% � � Dictating: 60% Dictating: 60% � � Addressing: 65% Addressing: 65% � � Many women employed as machine operators Many women employed as machine operators � � Of 22,817 women Of 22,817 women � � 2,620 typists 2,620 typists � � 2,015 bookkeeping/adding/calculating operators 2,015 bookkeeping/adding/calculating operators � � 543 telephone operators 543 telephone operators � less feminized � Larger firms much Larger firms much less feminized � 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 15 15
My Findings: Management My Findings: Management At least one third had an “ “office manager office manager” ” At least one third had an � � Of women’ Of women ’s bureau sample, proportion with s bureau sample, proportion with � � Any clerks on incentive pay: 9%. Any clerks on incentive pay: 9%. � � Formal training of any clerks: 10%. Formal training of any clerks: 10%. � � Testing (incl. Medical) of any clerks: 28%. Testing (incl. Medical) of any clerks: 28%. � � Laid off a single clerk through efficiency savings (including Laid off a single clerk through efficiency savings (including � � machines): 10% machines): 10% An office procedures staff: 15% An office procedures staff: 15% � � No correlation of technology < > management < > feminization of No correlation of technology < > management < > feminization of � � firm firm 19- 19 -Jun Jun- -2004, BHC 2004, BHC Technology versus Technocracy Technology versus Technocracy 16 16
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