ABSTRACT
The introduction of new machines or any other technological change in a factory always leads to new roles with new functions. In filling these new roles, a company is faced with two alternatives. It can introduce new personnel, already experienced in the new functions, or it can select some of its existing employees to change their roles to the new ones that are required. If the new technology replaces an existing one, the prospect of redundant workers is an incentive for the company to choose the latter policy. In the first case, the company has no training problems, but there are the relational ones of settling the new people into the social system – particularly because these people come in to occupy roles that are also new. In the second case, there are two decisions confronting management. First, they have to select certain people from the existing social structure to fill the new roles with their new functions. Second, they have to decide on what form of training to provide for those they select.
