Before the Industrial Revolution, most businesses were small operations, averaging three to four people. Organisation were viewed as machines and human beings as components of those machines. Owners were frequently next to their employees, knew what they were capable of, and closely directed their work. They were of the view that efficiency of the organisation can be increased by making human beings efficient. The workers “on the floor” controlled the work process and generally worked only hard enough to make sure they would not be fired.

Question

Identify from the case study the time-period emphasised in the framework related to the nature of work and employees:

A.
1700s-1900s

B.
1900s-1950s

C.
1950s-1980s

D.
None of the above

Answer 1

The time-period emphasized in the framework related to the nature of work and employees, as described in the case study, is:

A. 1700s-1900s

This period encompasses the time before the Industrial Revolution, when small businesses were common and organizational structures were more hands-on and direct.