The industries of the higher type lead in providing the best implements and in organization of best team work by which each worker produces the greatest 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 work with the work of others with whom he is in competition.

In these days of long distance transportation our competitors in the market may be a long distance away.

If it is in agriculture, the question of climate, soil and degree to which highly efficient implements can be used, are important factors.

If it is in the professions we must see how we can acquire the greatest proficiency and opportunity.  This again involves the question of the extent to which we must specialize.

The measure then of success is the value of our services as compared with the services of others.

One of the important problems in industrial management is the extent to which specialization should be practiced.

On one hand we see the ill effects of a routine repetition where there has been an overdose of repetition—­one that has gone beyond the beneficial point—­and on the other hand, we find that the greatest achievements in the sciences and professions have been wrought by those who have concentrated in a way that has given them a higher development.  Unfortunately in many of the industries, the development of machinery has gone forward with the sole end in view of dollars and cents, disregarding the effect on the worker.

This is to be found in some of the industries in which originally there was an opportunity for the worker to have a keen interest in his work.  Mention is made of this situation as it comes about with certain stages of development of the manufacturing processes.  It is unfortunate and something that the engineers and managers should endeavor to eliminate.

We have very few of such industries in Vermont; they can broadly be classed as undesirable industries.  The fact that there are such industries should not in itself drive us from the scheme of working by which men specialize.  We should, however, see to it that the degree of repetition of operation goes only to the beneficial extent.  Our greatest trouble in Vermont has been the wasteful scattering of each man’s energies over a variety of tasks.

Competition with the outer world makes it absolutely necessary that we use our energies in the most effective manner; that most effective manner is the one by which through repetition and experience we acquire skill and ability.  The important matter to decide is the degree to which we can specialize.  This degree varies with the work and the individual.  To an alert and active mentality routine work becomes drudgery, while to the opposite type, mental work is annoying.  In an industry, men gradually fit in with the most suitable work.  Each man’s job should be one that is best for him.