ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the foreman's role in relation to work groups. Social scientists in discussing groups use the term cohesiveness, rather than strength. This, as commonly understood, means a measure of the durability of the group. One brief definition of cohesiveness is "the resultant of all the forces acting on all the members to remain in the group". A foreman who believed that his section operated more effectively when greater responsibility was distributed to his key operators practiced the same philosophy when he also allowed and encouraged his regular operators to take some of the responsibility for ensuring that good work was done. Thus, this meant that there was more interaction between operators concerning the work than in other sections. The more successful foremen tend to think and act towards their men as a group, to think well of their men's capacities, and to stick up for them.