Part 3 (1/2)

For instance, while we know that skill and experience is invaluable, weits value, or too often we limit its application to the hand worker We say that skill of the pianist, the surgeon, the workman must be acquired by practice We know that in many trades a workman must spend three, four or more years as an apprentice, and at least the same number of years is necessary of actual specialized practice in almost any department of work, but we overlook the fact that that special skill or that special ability on which modern success is based must be acquired under certain conditions

The oriole builds a nest unlike the robin's nest Each is qualified in its oork We know that these birds would be sorely handicapped, and would probably be downright failures in providing nests in season for eggs, if each were required to work to plans and specifications of the other bird's nest

Our funda our own kind seenize that man is a creature of habit to an extent not quite equal to that of the lower aniree that positively stands in the way of anydue value to this one elenize experience is necessary--experience not only for the worker but for each one in the organization

The effect of this characteristic of habit action is so profound that any disturbance in a plant due to changing the position of benches orthe character of the work sorely interferes with ree to which oes in direct proportion to the degree in which there is a es in the character of the work

The importance of this will be realized e consider the question of competition, for that, in the last analysis, constitutes the measure of success

Now, if we extend the plan of acquisition of special ability to embrace men in office as well as in the workshop we have covered the whole subject and have said nothing more than that it is necessary for all men in the office as well as in the workshop to have a special ability that has been acquired by experience

If it is as siht about by the painful fact that one of the characteristics of habit action is to continue on without change even after the e should be e of these things, but through action

SPECIALIZATION

Of the many elements on which industrial develope

Under the general term ”specialization” we include all plans and methods of work by which the scope of activity of ree of skill of artist or worker is attained by concentration of energies to a restricted range of work It is through practice that the skill is acquired The highest skill and highest ability is attained by the degree of interested attention and nuiven kind of work

Other things being equal, the practice, combined with keenness of interest, iven profession or work

Repetition of operation becomes an automatic (habit) action in which iven expenditure of energy

These two results--proficiency and easy perforreatest value, but repetition of action, like nearly all good things, is not without its drawbacks An overdose of one kind of ith a li the senses This stultifying effect produces a ins when there is a loss of interest in the work, for it is through the interest that the progress is ood and bad results varies with different types of men

The simplest tasks may becoreat success in a work that to others seeery But with all its drawbacks it still is the best way for man to work and while we ery, we must face the plain fact that competition between men, industries, states and nations makes it absolutely necessary to specialize

Specialization by the roups of men will determine the question of superiority of advance in science, industry, coth in the ti effects of repetition of distasteful tasks; we nore the other extreies of ree of ability With such desultory use of energies, a day's work is of relatively sress

Of the two extremes we find the most prevalent to be the scatter-brain and scatter ability type

The industries of the higher type lead in providing the best ianization of best teareatest value for a given expenditure of energy

The essential bearing Of these facts is that the worker as well as the business man should compare his ith the work of others ho distance transportation our co distance away

If it is in agriculture, the question of clihly efficient implements can be used, are important factors