work-to-rule

Examples of work-to-rule in the following topics:

• Strikes

  • Strike action, also called a labor strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work.
  • A strike action, also called labor strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work.
  • A strike may consist of workers refusing to attend work or picketing outside the workplace to prevent or dissuade people from working in their place or conducting business with their employer.
  • Another unconventional tactic is work-to-rule, in which workers perform their tasks exactly as they are required but no better.
  • Another counter to a strike is a lockout, the form of work stoppage in which an employer refuses to allow employees to work.

• Demand-pull production system and quick setups to reduce lot sizes

  • The traditional approach to manufacturing management promotes a strong focus on machine and labor utilization.The view was that if managers make sure that workers and machines are always busy, then surely the factory will be productive and efficient.This approach is called the "push" system of manufacturing, where raw material and work-in-process is continuously pushed through the factory in the pursuit of high utilization.The problem with this approach is that it usually produces high levels of inventories, long lead times, overtime costs, high levels of potential rework, and workers who are competing with one another rather than working cooperatively.
  • In contrast to the push system, JIT espouses a "demand-pull" system that operates on the rule that work should flow to a work center only if that work center needs more work.If a work center is already occupied with work activity, the upstream work center should stop production until the downstream work center communicates a need for more material.The emphasis on maintaining high utilization is removed in a JIT environment.The focus of a JIT environment is on addressing the challenges that affect the overall effectiveness of the factory (setup time reduction, quality improvement, enhanced production techniques, waste elimination, etc. ) in meeting its strategic goals, rather than allowing excess inventory to cover up inefficiencies that reduce the factory's competitiveness.
  • The longer it takes, and the more expensive it is to setup equipment and labor to produce an item, the greater the quantity of items that have to be produced in a given production run.
  • To keep unit production costs under control, 3M studied the setups on its coating machines.
  • Since the cost of chemical waste disposal was a major part of the cost of changing over a coating machine to make another product, 3M shortened the length of hoses that needed purging and redesigned the shape of the adhesive solution holding pan on the coating machine to be shallower. 3M also used quick-connect devices, disposable filters, and work teams to speed up setups.

• Expert Systems

  • In the 1980s, a third component was added to most expert systems: A dialog interface to communicate with users.
  • This ability to conduct a conversation with users was later called "conversational. " In expert system technology, the knowledge base is expressed with natural language rules, such as "if-then" statements.
  • Knowledge based systems are artificial intelligent tools working in a narrow domain to provide intelligent decisions with justification.
  • Knowledge is acquired and represented using various knowledge representation techniques, rules, frames and scripts.
  • Expert systems (ES) have been the tools and techniques perfected by artificial intelligence (AI) researchers to deduce decision influences based on the codification of knowledge and applying rules, such as if-then statements.

• Bureaucracies, Part I: Know How They Tick

  • Dysfunctions: The bureaucrat has to be a truncated remnant of a human being…allowed to feel…only those emotions specified in the work orders
  • It's intended to make implementing an institution's rules, regulations, directives, and policies efficient.
  • If they work properly, rules and regulations can serve as an "organizational superego" to promote coordination, stability, continuity, and uniformity.
  • When I worked for the DIA, each morning I would stand in line for the security badge that would admit me to the sanctuary behind the doors where the supersecrets were.
  • Worse than this are situations in which bureaucrats follow rules for their own sake instead of as means to larger ends.

• Fair Labor Standards Act

  • The category they fall in depends on rules established by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • But it also allowed employers to replace striking workers.
  • The FLSA does not require [[#|overtime pay]] for work on weekends, holidays, or regular days of rest, unless overtime is worked on such days.
  • Particular jobs may be completely excluded from coverage under the FLSA overtime rules.
  • As a general rule, if a job is governed by some other federal, the FLSA does not apply.

• The Disadvantages of Communism

  • However, what transpired was a nation ruled by corrupt Party officials, with no rights or civil liberty.
  • In addition to directly controlling the means of production, Communism places strict rules as to how businesses operate in such a way that a classless society is born.
  • This can cause emotional unrest between workers who wish to be specially recognized for their work.
  • Large or geographically-broad populations tend to be diverse, making it difficult to maintain a common goal or set of rules for shared effort and resources.
  • Summarize how the strict rules placed on businesses in a communist economic system can lead to social unrest

• Organizing team meetings

  • Behaviour rules.
  • Work performance expectations.
  • Will objections be listened to?
  • Those who work with teams on a regular basis suggest countering every negative criticism with a positive suggestion for improvement.
  • Avoid being partial to only one course of action (perhaps make it a rule to always come up with two or three alternatives),

• Write Productively-Part II

  • I worked hard. ~ J.S.
  • s question, "How would you sum up your life's work?"
  • My own rule of thumb is to reread each of my paragraphs at least three times before sharing it with anyone else.
  • Sherry Schreck's work with Wenatchee's "Short Shakespeareans" is that of a consummate professional.
  • In her work with more than 200 young people since 1979, she has attained greatness in large part by maintaining a positive attitude and leaving nothing to chance—by "riding in triumph over all mischance."

• Bureaucracies, Part II: Fight Them and Win

  • When you have to work with specialists, find out what their specialties really are.
  • Make it your business to know what the rules are.
  • If conscience or practicality tempt you to break a rule, ask yourself how seriously the organization takes the particular rule you're thinking of disregarding.
  • Do you see any evidence of what's happened to someone who broke the rule in the past?
  • Of course, you might ask for an exception to a rule rather than deciding to break it.

• Retirements

  • A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.
  • Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions no longer allow the person to work (by illness or accident) or as a result of legislation concerning their position.
  • Previously, low life expectancy and the absence of pension arrangements meant that most workers continued to work until death.
  • To avoid the 10 percent penalty prior to age 59½, a person should consult a lawyer about the use of IRS rule 72 T.
  • This rule must be applied for with the IRS.