Psychology and Industrial Efficiency

I recently read Hugo Munsterberg's book on Psychology and Industrial Efficiency and found it to be a very promising, yet rather disheartening approach to the topic of human behavior in manufacturing and commerce.

It is, first and foremost, an extension of the notion of Scientific Management and pays due respect to Taylor for the wondrous advances in productivity that resulted.  Yet while the science of management has been focused on the praxeological capacities of the human being, it has entirely neglected the psychological ones. And where there is no motivation, the physical ability to engage in action is moot.

While the topic of the book firmly follows its title in being "industrial," Munsterberg explores more than productivity in traditional industries, consider the full scope of mankind's economic behaviors as a supplier of labor and consumer of goods.   He has, in that sense, the right perspective on economics as not merely theoretical consideration of the mathematical evidence of human action, but the purpose of human action itself, and commercial behavior in the context of life in general.

Of chief importance is that he recognizes the need for commercial interests and academic interests to reconcile: the academic must recognize that exploring ideas without a thought for their practical implementation is merely a leisure pursuit that is ultimately of benefit to no-one, and the businessman must recognize that effectiveness is not the result of sheer force of will and personal power, but of leveraging the properties of things (and people) in a manner that is best instructed by scientific inquiry.

This book is offered as the beginning, with an acknowledgement that there is a tremendous amount of work left to be done to achieve the full benefits of progress in the commercial sector.   It is, all in all, a highly philosophical work that suggests a much needed change in perspective - though it is grounded in methodology and practical application.

I did open this meditation by stating that this book was "promising yet rather disheartening."  The disheartening element is that the book was written in 1913 - just over a century ago - and has evidently received virtually no consideration until the last few decades, and very little even then.  As a result the situation today is much the same as that of Munsterberg's time - there's a great deal of potential for improvement in the workplace and in the human condition, though far less of a sense that it will be recognized and seized upon.