The setting of a time in which the work is to be done is a great stimulus to the worker, and is also necessary, because upon the attainment of this set time depends the ability of the managers to pay the bonus to the worker, and also to maintain a schedule, or time-table, that will make possible the maintaining of necessary conditions for others, in turn, to earn their bonuses.  It cannot be too often emphasized that the extra wages are paid to the men out of the savings, and are absolutely dependent upon the fact of there being savings.  It is only when the worker does the work within the time prescribed, that the managers do save enough to warrant the payment of the extra wages that compensate the man for doing the stipulated quantity of work.

The instruction card contains a statement of the wage or bonus that will be earned for the complete performance of the task set therein, thus furnishing an incentive at the time that the work is done.

STANDARD DIVISION OF INSTRUCTION CARD NECESSARY.—­There are many reasons for dividing an instruction card in the present standard way, namely,—­

      (a) to reduce the amount of time study observation
          necessary to be taken,
      (b) to reduce the difficulties of synthesizing the time
          studied element,
      (c) to locate quickly just where the worker needs help and
          instruction to enable him to achieve his task,
      (d) to keep up the interest of the worker by having short
          time elements with which to measure his relative
          ability,
      (e) to present the subject-matter of instruction in such
          natural subdivisions that resting places are
          automatically provided that allow the mind to recover
          from its absorption of each subdivision.  This provides
          definite stopping places between co-related units of
          instruction holding the attention as a complete unit
          against distraction, and a complete resting place
          between subdivisions that permits the mind to relax and
          wander without losing complete grasp of each unit as
          a whole.

DETAILED INSTRUCTION EDUCATIVE.—­The greater the perfection of the detail of the instruction card, the greater the educative value of this plan of management.  The educative value of the instruction card will be discussed at length under Teaching.

Those inexperienced in Scientific Management have complained that the detail of Instruction Cards and other parts of Scientific Management is tiresome.  Dr. Taylor has answered such objectors in Discussions, and also in his own directions for planning the Instruction Card, which are to be found in “Shop Management.”

The advantages of the detailed instruction card are more than might appear on the surface.  Not only does the man whose attention is easily distracted keep to his work better if he is told every possible detail, but also the cards when filed can be taken out again, and every detail and item of the method reviewed at length and revised if necessary.