Plymstock School History Department

Aims: How did mass production evolve? Can we develop it? Have our group work skills got better? Can we learn from others? How did it help to change the world? DSEB Focus Have our group work skills improved? Can we self-reflect? Can we learn from others?

‘Once upon a time, a British company and the Americans decided to have a competitive boat race on the River Thames. The Americans won by a mile. The British firm became very discouraged by the loss and morale sagged. Senior management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found, and a project team was set up to investigate the problem and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion: The American team had eight people rowing and one person steering. The British team had one person rowing and eight people steering. Senior management immediately hired a consultancy company to do a study of the British teams structure. Millions of pounds and several months later they concluded that: Too many people were steering and not enough rowing. To prevent losing to the Americans next year, the team structure was changed to four “Steering Managers” three “Senior Steering Managers” and one “Executive Steering Manager”. A performance and appraisal system was set up to give the person rowing the boat more incentive to work harder and become a ‘key performer’. The next year the Americans won by two miles. The British company laid off the rower for poor performance, sold off all the oars, cancelled all capital investment for new equipment and halted development of a new boat, awarded high performance awards to the consultants and distributed the money they saved to senior management.’

Two hundred years ago Britain was the workshop of the world. 90% of all manufactured goods in the world were made in Great Britain….. Today its 5% Where have we gone wrong? Why has the USA overtaken us? Have we simply forgotten the skills? Today we will see if you can learn as Apprentices….

Mass Production Mass Production techniques changed the world. Richard Arkwright made the first difference when he started the factory system of bringing workers under one roof and giving them machines. Sounds simple doesn’t it? So why are we so bad at it? However, could you do the same?

Exercise Get into groups (minimum of two, maximum of six) Arrange yourselves for group work Arrange yourselves for group work Put everything away. You will require nothing more than your teacher tells you Put everything away. You will require nothing more than your teacher tells you The exercise works only as well as your ability to co operate with each other and your teacher The exercise works only as well as your ability to co operate with each other and your teacher. When silence is asked for I expect you to listen immediately. When silence is asked for I expect you to listen immediately Read the next page very carefully…. Read the next page very carefully….

Read the Instructions The winning group is the one that has most money after four rounds. You get money by selling Ford Model T’s that you make and take to market. Any money you get for selling your cars can either be saved or invested in more materials or new machinery. You will start Round 1 with £ A Model T is a piece of paper with ‘Model T ‘ written on it. A good quality car can be sold for £4 at market; poor quality cars will only fetch £1. In each round you will get 2 minutes to make as many cars as you can before going to market. After you have sold your wares you can either save your money (so that you are guaranteed to have some after four rounds) or you can invest the money in machinery and/or materials from the list below: Paper: £2 per sheet  Pencil:£5 each  Scissors: £10 each

Read the Instructions At each stage of the game you are to record your income (money you earn) and expenditure money you pay), as well as any other notes you think are relevant. You will need them for a later assignment

Failure to follow these rules will result in fines and or disqualification

If your group is in last place three times…. ‘You’re Fired’

Where are You & Your Group? Storming – just not achieving anything and arguing to make things worse Forming – starting to work together as a group Norming – making progress as a whole group Performing – really working as a team, reflecting on success and failure

Aims: How did mass production evolve? Can we develop it? Have our group work skills got better? Can we learn from others? How did it help to change the world?

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