Q.Identify the incorrect statement with respect to ‘Motion Study’, as a technique of scientific management : (A) Unnecessary movements are sought to be eliminated so that it takes less time to complete the job efficiently. (B) It refers to the study of movements like lifting, putting objects, sitting and changing positions etc., which are undertaken while doing a typical job. (C) Through this technique, Taylor was able to design suitable equipment and tools to educate workers on their use. (D) This technique helps to determine the number of workers to be employed, frame suitable incentive schemes and determine labour costs.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Motion Study focuses on eliminating wasteful bodily movements to find the most efficient way of doing a job — it does not deal with determining the number of workers or incentive schemes.
Let’s begin with the context. F.W. Taylor, the father of scientific management, was obsessed with eliminating waste — not just of materials, but of human effort and time. He believed that every job could be broken down into its smallest physical movements, and that by studying these movements, one could design a “one best way” to do the work. This is the heart of Motion Study.
Taylor and his associate Frank Gilbreth (often called the father of motion study) used cameras and stopwatches to film workers. They analysed every lift, turn, reach, and grasp involved in a task. The goal was simple: identify and remove unnecessary motions so the job could be done faster without tiring the worker. For example, a bricklayer might bend down to pick up a brick — Gilbreth redesigned the scaffold so bricks arrived at waist height, eliminating that wasteful bending. This is exactly what statements (A) and (B) describe: eliminating unnecessary movements and studying actions like lifting, sitting, and changing positions.
Statement (C) is also correct. Once Taylor and Gilbreth identified the most efficient set of motions, they designed specialised tools and equipment to match that method. They then trained workers in the use of these tools. This was a core part of scientific management — not just finding the best method, but standardising it and teaching it to everyone.
Now look at statement (D): “This technique helps to determine the number of workers to be employed, frame suitable incentive schemes and determine labour costs.” This is where the confusion arises. Motion study tells you how to do a job efficiently — it does not tell you how many workers you need or what to pay them. Those decisions come from a different technique: Time Study. …
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