1) Yes, the workers in sandal factory were provided with too much autonomy in selecting work

procedures. Autonomy is a great deal of freedom to make choices in the workplace. It is the
power to shape your work environment in ways that allow you to perform at your best. A job
provides an employee with the independence to schedule their work and determine how it is
to be done.

According to the case, after several weeks of observation on the job, Eddie was struck by the
fact that most of these coworker approached their tasks slightly different. There seemed to
be considerable variability in the way his coworkers performed routine tasks and a resulting
variability in how long it took an individual to make a pair of sandal. Workers seemed to have
complete autonomy to decide how they performed these tasks. Many times Eddie would
observe his workers and say to himself, “I wonder what would possess someone to do it that
way.” When he asked one of his coworkers why she was performing a particular task the way
she was, the worker responded, “Nobody ever sat us down and told us there was a perfect
way.” Base on this case, it shows that too much autonomy in selecting work procedure in
sandal factory.

2) Scientific management focuses on the productivity of individual worker. According to Frederick

W.Taylor, he defined “the one best way” to perform every task through systematic study and other
scientific methods. He believed that improved management practices lead to improve productivity.
Scientific management incorporates basic expectations of management including development of
workers standards, selection of workers, training of workers and support of workers.

The principle of scientific management that they might use to improve the task performance is
development of workers standards. Development of workers standards is standard method should be
developed for performing each job within the organization. Based on the case, the sandals were not
made in an assembly line fashion, there were just too many design variations and color choices for
men, women and children.

Furthermore, The principle of scientific management that they might use to improve the task
performance is selection of workers. Selection of workers mean workers with the appropriate abilities
should be selected for each job. According to the case, when Eddie asked one of his coworkers why
she performing a particular task the way she was, the worker responded, “Nobody ever sat us down
and told us there was a perfect way.

Next, The principle of scientific management that they might use to improve the task performance is
training of workers. Training of workers mean workers should be trained in the standard method.
According to the case, Eddies was struck by the fact that the most of these coworkers approached
their tasks slightly different.

Besides, The principle of scientific management that they might use to improve the task performance
is support of workers. Support of workers mean workers should be supported by having their work
planned for them. Based on the case, there seemed to be considerable variability in the way his
coworkers performed routine tasks and a resulting variability in how long it took an individual to make
a pair of sandals.