that it contains are likely to be
available in subsequent work.
5. the probable cost of the work after it has been studied--
(a) the cost of doing it.
(b) the cost of the investigation.
6. The loss, if any, from delaying the work until after it
has been studied.
7. the availability of trained observers and measurers,
analysts and synthesists.
8. the available money for carrying on the investigations.

These questions at least must be answered before it is possible
to decide whether study shall be made or not, and to what degree it
can be carried.

COST THE DETERMINING FACTOR.--It is obvious that in all
observation in the industrial world cost must be the principal
determining feature. Once the cost can be estimated, and the amount
of money that can be allowed for the investigation determined, it is
possible at least to approximate satisfactory answers to the other
questions. How closely the answers approximate depends largely on
the skill and experience of the analyst.

The greater number of times the work is to be repeated, the less
the ultimate cost. The more elements contained similar to elements
already determined, the less the additional cost, and the less the
time necessary. The more elements contained that can be used again,
even in different work, the less the ultimate cost. The better
trained the analyst, the less the immediate or additional cost
and time.

Much depends on the amount of previous data at hand when the
investigation is being made, and on the skill and speed of the
analyst in using these data.

PROCESS OF DIVISION UNENDING.--In practice, the process of
division continues as long as it can show itself to be a method for
cost reducing. Work may be divided into processes: each process into
subdivisions; each subdivision into cycles; each cycle into
elements; each element into time units; each time unit into
motions,--and so on, indefinitely, toward the "indivisible
minimum."[4]

MEASURING MAY TAKE PLACE AT ANY STAGE.--At any of these stages
of division the results may be taken as final for the purpose of the
study,--and the operations, or final divisions of the work at that
stage, may be measured.

To obtain results with the least expenditure of time, the
operations must be subjected to motion study before they are timed
as well as after. This motion study can be accurate and of permanent
value only in so far