Basic Time Concepts For International Comparisons of Time Study Reports

Abstract In this paper, a proposal for a system of basic time concepts is presented. The lack of uniformity of time concepts was identified by the group preparing this proposal as the single most important obstacle when trying to make international comparisons of time study reports. The aim of the proposal is to set standards for scientific presentations so that international comparisons and analyses of results are simplified. The proposal is not aimed at defining a terminology for practical time study, nor does it contain suggestions on what methods to use (or not to use). It simply contains a number of basic concepts for time measurement of work that should always serve as a basis for any study claiming international significance. It is the suggestion of the ‘terminology team’ that study results should either be published using the terms defined by the proposal or in such a way that a transformation into the proposed concepts is possible.