Profit by Experience.

In considering ways and means for efficient management of industrial organizations, it is not necessary to commence at the beginning of each plant.  The method of dealing with the problems of existing plants is also applicable to new organizations, for a new organization is only new in a limited sense.  It uses men of experience.  It uses existing machines and implements.  It follows existing methods of conducting business and in the general management of its affairs.

Even the so-called new method which may be the center around which the so-called new business is built contains very little that is new.  The newest things in the ordinary industrial world contain many old and well-known elements.  The very use of a so-called new method or machine as a center around which to build an organization is in itself so old that it is a confirmed habit with us to be lured on to investing in such things by the statement that some new process or means is to be employed.

A really new thing that calls for wholly new ways and new means for manufacture is almost inconceivable.  The nearer we approach to newness in the industrial world the thinner becomes the ice on which we are moving.  Therefore, let us know that when we advise following habit lines in all moves in management of an existing organization we imply that the same course should be taken in establishing a new company or organization.

In both cases we should employ existing ways and means, experienced men and well-tried implements.  Both old and new should be conducted along the usual line in conformity with the state of the art, the habits of the workers, and other conditions indigenous to the locality.  Any scheme of going contrary to the existing customs and usage must be entered into with full knowledge of the great need of patience, force and courage to offset the barrier of inertia.

Dissipation of Energies.

This tendency to dissipate energies by wandering into other fields is not confined to the worker; it is a most common tendency of business men.  A manager of an industrial establishment has to continually combat his tendency to divert the energies of the organization along new lines.  He knows from past experience how dearly bought is each new method that is introduced into his organization.  He knows for example that it would make all of his men tardy at the plant in the morning if at the hour of arising he has issued a request for each man to dress by carefully thinking out each move.  He knows that the day’s work would never be well done if he asked each one to think before acting.

Even conversation comes under the law of habit.  It must follow the line that has been carefully thought out.

We all know that when a man talks on subjects with which he is not familiar his words carry little weight.

The so-called spontaneous utterances that seem so full of life and are apparently the product of flashed thought are either the welling up of some subconscious ideas quickly reconstructed to fit the situation or they are a haphazard jumble either meaningless or conveying an unintended impression.  They are generally in the humorous line and frequently make an impression that was not anticipated by the utterer.