Michael,
You fall into the trap of assuming that those of us who have spent too
much time in an academic setting actually know more than the person who
hasn't. I don't view people on the shop floor as ignorant because of
their lack of formal educational credentials. Quite the contrary, I see
the gulf between both the academic and the line worker as a product of
different cultures, both limited in the scope, not one more important than
the other. There is a great need to eliminate prejudice, which I am more
than willing to do. But the fact of the matter is that there is a gap
between these two levels of an organization. And, all too often, it is
the professional managers who lack the perception or the skills to
understand the average man or woman on the shop floor. Their world can be
just as insular as the shop floor, to the extent that they believe their
actions are well received and contribute to enhancing trust in the
organization. And it surprises them when it doesn't happen.
It is also true, Michael, that not every manufacturing facility is Boeing.
And not everyone is producing high technology. There are many where the
labor is not as technical as you describe. Where the labor consists
primarily of moving pieces of material from one machine to another. Yet,
they understand better than many how the process could be improved.
Yes, there is prejudice existent in every company between those who have
and those who have not. And that is not limited to either side of this
divide we are discussing. The challenge is to find common ground through
the recognition that each side needs the other, and that communication and
collaboration will have to be enhanced to make it happen.
I'm glad you pointed this issue out.
Ed Brenegar
Leadership Resources
edb3@msn.com
828/693-0720
--"Ed Brenegar" <edb3@msn.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>