Work Measurement and the Radiologist

Work-measurement techniques generally are based upon the objective categorization of work activity. Several troublesome characteristics arise when applying the concept to professional people: antagonisms may develop between the observer and the professional being observed, and the importance of the qualitative aspect of the activity may say that the reason for doing something is as important as the fact that it is being done. This paper describes a project where these issues were faced in a constructive way by using subjective appraisal on the part of the professional being observed without unduly jeopardizing the principles of systematic scientific investigation.