A Comparison of Foreman and General Foreman Conceptions of the Foreman's Job Responsibilities

Abstract

Summary T his study was carried out to determine how foremen and general foremen differ in their concepts of the foreman's job responsibilities. It was also aimed at determining how foremen rated by their general foremen as “most effective” compared with foremen rated “least effective” in the way they viewed their job responsibilities. Specifically, it was hypothesized that foremen rated as “most effective” by their general foreman would be in better agreement with the general foreman regarding their job responsibilities than would foremen rated “least effective.” Both general foremen and foremen in a number of manufacturing plants filled out a check‐list questionnaire indicating their conceptions of the degree of the foreman's responsibility for a number of specific job functions. The questionnaire results were analyzed by comparing the responses of the foremen to the responses of their respective general foremen. Attention was also focussed on differences between the responses of foremen rated as “most effective” and the responses of foremen rated “least effective.” The study revealed: (a) a fairly high level of disagreement between foremen and general foremen regarding the responsibilities of the foreman; (b) that foremen rated “most effective” disagreed with their general foremen regarding their job responsibilities just as much as did foremen rated “least effective;” but (c) that “most effective” foremen, as compared with “least effective” foremen, did differ significantly in the direction of their disagreement. Specifically, “most effective” foremen characteristically claimed more responsibility for job functions than did “least effective” foremen.