In recent years many countries have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more productive. Some experts believe that the answer is to make jobs more varied. Do more variedjobs lead to greater productivity? There is something to suggest thatwhile variety certainly makes the worker's life more enjoyable, itdoes not make him work harder. So variety is not important.
Other experts feel that giving the worker freedom to do his jobin his own way is important and there is no doubt that this is true. The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given inthe modern factory with its complicated machinery which must beused in a fixed way. Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is very little that can be done to achieve this.
Another important consideration is how much each worker contributes to the product he is making. In most factories the workersees only one small part of the product. Some car factories are saidto be experimenting with having many small production lines ratherthan a large one, so that each worker contributes more to the production of the cars on his line. It would seem then that the degree ofworkers' contribution is important.
To what extent does more money lead to greater productivity?The workers themselves certainly think this is important, but perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is soboring. Money just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A similarargument may explain demands for shorter working hours. Perhaps ifcompanies succeed in making workers' jobs more interesting, theywill neither want more money, nor will shorter working hours be soimportant to them.
Which of the following things will not increase productivity?
A.Making jobs more varied. |
B.Giving workers freedom to do their jobs in their own way. |
C.Increasing workers' contribution to production. |
D.Longer working hours. |
The last sentence in this passage means that if companiesmanage to make workers, jobs more interesting, __________.
A.they will want more money |
B.they will demand shorter working hours |
C.more money and shorter working hours are important |
D.more money and shorter working hours will not be so important to them |
In this passage, the writer tells us __________.
A.how to make workers more productive |
B.possible factors leading to greater productivity |
C.more money leads to greater productivity |
D.how to make workers' jobs more interesting |
The writer of this passage is probably a __________.
A. teacher B. worker
C. manager D, physicist