New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08
HARVARD'S SCHOOL OF EFFICIENCY

} ranging from nothing to SIS per cent,
with a tendency toward per cent as the
normal proportion. Rents also are d.
verse, ranging from Is per cent to lis
per cent, with the average about s per
cent
The advantage OF having an itemlzed
standard Of living for a shoe shop IL
shown here. for the dealer who is eI-
pending a seventh OF his receipts in rent
will discover that here is an item of sx-
pense in which he can save money. Such
a saving would help him in meeting com
petition successfully and in giving better
service. These illustrations serve to
show the kind OF data the bureau studies
All this may seem like dry detail TO the
average person, but human nature plays
its part. The bureau found in its in
vestigation OF the question OF the ef
ficiency OF sales clerks, as represented BY
their sales. that a clerk can make a
higher average OF sales OF mems shoes
than OF womens shoes. The element OF
time does not press so heavily upon the
consciences of women as IT does on those
of men. They are reputed TO enjoy look
ing over an entire stock whether they
buy or not. THE number OF sales per-
sons" declares the bureau, should form
one OF the first rough tests OF the ef-
ficiency OF a retail shoe concern. and IN
the large cities the figure OF $4,000 annual
sales per average sales person will be
found not far wrong, with possibly re-
duction 10 $500 for suburban stores
VALUE OF DATA.
shoe firm in one OF the largest East
ern cities already has found the informs-
ton collected at Cambridge Of great
value. II was not one Of those reported
which used a spindle as a bill file and
kept no accounts OF bills payable. but II
did not know what the different branches
Of its buying and selling stan cost IL
With the aid of one OF the agents of the
Bureau OF Business Research its books
we're examined and two days were spent
in classifying the various items Every
thing seemed normal except the cost OF
selling the shoes. The expense for clerks
was found TO be per cent above what II
should be Armed with this knowledge. II
was possible to concentrate attention on
the item The policy OF not filing vacan-
cies was adopted and I'm little time the
cost OF clerk hire had been cut from lol
10 s.5 on a business OF $4,000 a year.
The clothing dealers are working out
similar system OF accounts, and In course
OF time other lines OF business will doubt
less do the same.
This summer a number OF the best
students will go into the field 10 continue
the investigation. This will be counted
as part OF their work, and the appoint
ments will be in the nature OF scholar
ships All the students are expected dur
ing the summer vacation TO take positions
I'm the business world, where they can
secure experience which will be OF value
in solving the problems that they will
later have 10 face. Their employers are
expected 10 make reports TO the school
regarding their work. These reports form
part OF the basis upon which degree Is
granted
Thus is Harvard as illustrated In the
school and research work, contributing 10
the efficiency of business administration.
This In the long run will reflect upon the
cost OF commodities and the price which
the public will have to pay for them. II
is not unlikely that Il will help To change
the ethical standards Of business