Prerequisites of Development, the Function and Place of Workers' Inventiveness in a State Establishment in the Light of the Economic Reform

Zbigniew Mitura

Prerequisites of Development, the

Function and Place of Workers’

Inventiveness in a State

Establishment in the Light of the

Economic Reform

Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska. Sectio H, Oeconomia 18,

309-325

A N N A L E S

U N I V E R S I T A T I S M A R I A E C U R I E - S K Ł O D O W S K A L U B L I N — P O L O N I A

VOL. X V III, 17 SECTIO H 1984

Z a k ła d N a u k o P r a c y W y d z ia ł E k o n o m ic z n y U M C S

Z b i g n i e w M I T U R A

P rereq u isites of D evelopm en t, the Function

and P lace of W orkers’ In ven tiven ess in a State E stablishm ent in the L ight of the Economic Reform

P rzesłan k i rozw oju, fun k cje i m iejsce w yn alazczości p racow niczej w p rzed sięb io rstw ie p ań stw o w y m w św ietle założeń reform y gospodarczej

П редпосы лки развития, ф ун к ц и и и место изобретательства

на государственном предприятии в свете принципов эконом ической р еф орм ы

I

Th e m o v e m e n t of w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s as a socio-econom ic p h e n o ­ m e n o n w as c re a te d s p o n ta n e o u sly as a re s u lt of th e social n eed . A t a c e rta in sta g e of econom ic d e v e lo p m e n t, s lig h t te c h n ic a l an d o rg a n iz a ­ tio n a l im p ro v e m e n ts su g g ested b y e n g in e e rs a n d w o rk e rs em p lo y ed in p la n ts b e g a n to a c q u ire g re a te r an d g re a te r im p o rta n c e . In v e n tiv e n e s s an d ra tio n a liz a tio n d ev e lo p e d in p la n ts w e re s tro n g ly s u p p o rte d b y th e so cialist sta te , w h ic h fo rm u la te d th is m o v e m e n t in th e ca te g o ries of th e law . T he le g a l acts b in d in g in th is re s p e c t cov ered d iffe re n t te c h n ic a l so lu tio n s w ith th e com m on n a m e of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts .1 T h e n o tio n of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss is u n d e rs to o d as th e w h o le ra n g e of te c h n ic a l p ro d u c tio n in socialized econo m y as w e ll as th e fo rm s of th e fo r m e r ’s defence. It com p rises b o th in v e n tio n s w ith p a te n t c a p a ­ b ility , u t ility p a tte r n s an d ra tio n a liz in g p ro jec ts; an d b o th , th e a c tiv ity

1 S. B u c z k o w s k i , Z. K. N o w a k o w s k i : P r a w o o b ro tu uspołeczn io n ego

(The Rule of th e S o cia liz ed Circu lation). PWN, W arsaw , p. 338. On the p roblem

of the n otions in v en tio n — tech n ical in novation, see: F. B u d z i ń s k i : W y n a l a z ­

ki, p a t e n t y i r o z w ó j g o s p o d a r c z y (I n v e n t io n s , p a t e n t s and e c o n o m i c . d e v e l o p m e n t) .

c a rrie d on in th e fra m e w o rk s of sp ec ia liz ed re c e a rc h in s titu tio n s a n d th e m ass in v e n tiv e a n d ra tio n a liz in g m o v e m e n t d ev elo p ed in socialized p la n ts. 2 If sp ec ia liz ed in s titu tio n s a re d o m in a te d b y te c h n ic a l so lu tio n s

possessin g fe a tu r e s of th e in v e n tio n , th e p la n ts a re d o m in a te d m a in ly by sm all te c h n ic a l a n d o rg a n iz a tio n a l im p ro v e m e n ts of ra tio n a liz in g c h a r- a r a c te r. T his is, am on g o th e r th in g s, a re a so n of th e d e p re c ia tio n of th e sig n ifican c e of th e in v e n tiv e m o v e m e n t in p la n ts, e x p re ssio n of v a rio u s c o n tro v e rs ia l op in io n s on th e s u b je c t of th e ro le an d th e p lace of th is m o v e m e n t in th e eco n o m y of a p l a n t. 3

E m p iric a l in v e s tig a tio n s c a rrie d o u t in th e 1960’s on th e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d th e e ffe c ts of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in p la n ts (e sp ecially in te x tile in d u s tr y of Łódź) im p e lle d so m e a u th o rs to e x p re ss th e ir sc e p ti­ cal op in io n s a b o u t th e sig n ifican c e of th is m o v e m e n t in so cialist econ o­ m y. A. D in te r in his p a p e r ’’R a c jo n a liz a c ja ro b o tn icz a w zak ład zie p rz e ­ m y s ło w y m ” (W o rk e rs ’ ra tio n a liz a tio n in in d u s tria l p la n ts) q u o te s th e opin io n s th a t ty p e c lassific atio n a n d a u to m a tiz a tio n of te c h n ic a l devices c re a te s co n d itio n s w h e re th e ra tio n a liz in g m o v e m e n t in th e p re s e n t m e a ­ n in g w ill n o t fin d re c o g n itio n , an d ev en th a t th e h a b it of ra tio n a liz a tio n m a y p ro v e to be h a r m f u l fo r p ro g re ss a n d in som e cases m a y re s u lt in d e v a s ta tin g good m a c h in e s. 4 A lth o u g h th e a u th o r does n o t s u p p o rt th is

e x tre m e view , h e co n c lu d e s s ta tin g th a t ra tio n a liz in g a c tiv ity h as little in com m on w ith w h a t ’s u n d e rs to o d as te c h n ic a l ad v an ce. A cco rd in g to h im , a s ig n ific a n t p a r t of in v e n tiv e n e s s a n d la b o u r u tiliz e d b y r a tio n a li­ ze rs does n o t b rin g th e re a l te c h n ic a l p ossessio ns b u t it o n ly serv es th e p u rp o s e of k e e p in g u p th e p re s e n t p ro d u c tio n . T he v iew s of. Z. B osia- k o w sk i w e re close to th a t; he cla im e d th a t te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss — b ein g th e re s u lt of ra tio n a liz in g m o v e m e n t — c a n n o t be th e basis of th e d e v e ­ lo p m e n t of te c h n o lo g y in g e n e ra l, a n d in th e so cialist econ om y in p a r ti ­ c u la r. 5

2 T. S z c z e p a n e k : W y n a l a z c z o ś ć p r a c o w n ic z a c z y n n i k i e m p o s t ę p u te c h n i c z ­

neg o (The w o r k e r s ’ i n v e n t i v e n e s s as a fa c to r of th e te ch n ical p r o g r e s s ). In sty tu t

W yd aw n iczy CRZZ, W arsaw 1976, p. 3.

3 T. S z c z e p a n e k : P r a c o w n ic z e p r o j e k t y w y n a l a z c z e ja k o c z y n n i k p o s t ę p u

tech n iczn eg o w p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w i e p r z e m y s ł o w y m (The w o r k e r s ’ i n v e n t i v e p ro je c ts as a fa cto r of th e te c h n ic a l p ro g r e s s in an i n d u s tr i a l plant) [in:] W p ł y w nhuki i p o s t ę p u te c h n ic zn e g o na w z r o s t g o s p o d a r c z y (The in flu en ce of sc ience and t e c h ­ nical p ro g r e ss u p o n th e e c o n o m ic d e v e l o p m e n t) . Łódź 1973, pp. 253ff.

4 A. D i n t e r : R a c jo n a l iz a c j a ro b o tn ic za w z a k ł a d z i e p r z e m y s ł o w y m (The w o r ­

k e r s ’ r a t io n a l iz a t io n in an i n d u s tr i a l pla nt). W rocław — W arsaw — C racow 1968.

5 Z. B o s i a k o w s k i : P o s tę p te c h n i c z n y i w y n a la z c z o ś ć w p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w i e

p r z e m y s ł o w y m (The te ch n ical p ro g r e s s and i n v e n t i v e n e s s in an in d u s tria l plant),

P rereq u isites of D ev elo p m en t... 311

In v e stig a tio n s co n d u c te d b y o th e r s c ie n tist (Solarz, T u lsk i, T alejk o ) does n o t co n firm th e above opinions. T h ey p o in t o u t th a t ra tio n a liz e rs t r e a t th e re a liz a tio n of te c h n ic a l p ro g ress as th e m a in p u rp o se of th e ir a c tiv ity , t h a t th e a d a p ta tio n of a n ew te c h n iq u e to th e n eed s of a given p la n t an d its s ta ff is th e p rin c ip a l fu n c tio n of th e ra tio n a liz in g m o v e­ m e n t.6

D esp ite th e co n tro v e rsie s sig n alled abov e in th e a p p re c ia tio n of th is p h en o m en o n , th e econom ic p ra c tic e e x p lic itly p o in ts to a big a n d in c re a ­ sin g ro le of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss in a p la n t. In th e scale of th e w h o le n a tio n a l econom y, th e econom ic effec ts of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n ­ tiv e n e ss sig n ific a n tly in flu e n c e th e speed of th e g ro w th of th e n a tio n a l re v e n u e . T h e ra tio s of th e p ro p o rtio n of th e sav in g s o b ta in e d th ro u g h th e ap p lied in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts in th e in c re a se of th e n a tio n a l re v e n u e re m a in on th e level of 8,5— 24,5% ,7 in th e y e a rs 1961— 1970; w h e re a s in th e m id d le 1970’s th e y u n d e rg o th e lo w e rin g dow n to th e lev el of a b o u t

1 2% as a re s u lt of a s ig n ific a n t g ro w th of in v e s tm e n ts in th e c re a tio n

of th e n a tio n a l re v e n u e . A n o th e r fa c to r w h ic h also in d ic a te s th e g ro w in g im p o rta n c e of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss is th e h ig h d y n am ics of in ­ v e n tiv e p ro je c ts su g g e ste d an d a p p lie d in th e n a tio n a l econom y, w h ic h fo r th e y e a rs 1960— 1980 fig u re s o u t 332 an d 455% re sp e c tiv e ly . In 1981, as a re s u lt of d eep socio-econom ic crisis, th e re en su e d a d ro p of alm o st 5 0 % in th e in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts p ro p o sed an d a p p lied in th e n a tio n a l eco­ n o m y. 8

T h e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s a n d its effec ts g a th e r a p a r tic u la rly h ig h im p o rta n c e u n d e r th e p re s e n t co n d itio n s of th e n a tio n a l econom y. T he s itu a tio n of g e ttin g th e econom y o u t of th e c ritic a l s ta te a n d of s im u lta ­ n e o u s doing a w a y w ith n u m e ro u s re s u lts of th e crisis b u rd e n so m e fo r society , re q u ire s th e in te n sific a tio n of th e m eth o d s of p ro d u c tio n in a p la n t, th e u tiliz a tio n of m a in ly n o n -in v e s tm e n t fa c to rs of th e in c re a se of p ro d u c tio n , en g a g in g th e re se rv e s of th e p ro d u c tiv e ab ilitie s, sa v in g th e m a te ria l an d e n e rg e tic a l reso u rces, m o re ra tio n a l m a n a g e m e n t of th e re so u rc e s of lab o u r. T h e fu n d a m e n ta l m ean s se rv in g th e above p u rp o se a re all ty p e s of im p ro v e m e n ts a n d in n o v atio n s. T his o pens o u t n ew p ro sp e c ts fo r th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t. T h e sam e d ire c tio n is n o w fo llo w ed in p la n ts b y th e econom ic re fo rm now going on in p la n ts a n d n ew m e c h a n ism s of s tim u la tin g th e te c h n ic a l o rg a n iz a tio n a l p ro g ress a n d in n o v a tiv e p ro d u c tio n co n n e cted w ith th is re fo rm . T hese m e c h a ­

6 J. S o l a r z : P o s tę p te c h n i c z n y w p r z e d s ię b i o r s t w i e p r z e m y s ł o w y m (The T e c h ­

nical P rogress in an I n d u s tria l plant). W rocław -W arsaw -C racow 1972, p. 172,

7 S z c z e p a n e k : op. cit., p. 262.

n ism s a re b ase d on th e a ssu m p tio n th a t th e m a in fo rces s te e rin g in th e d ire c tio n of p e r m a n e n t p ro g re ss in te c h n o lo g y an d o rg a n iz a tio n a l of p ro d u c tio n m u s t be in itia te d in th e p l a n t.9

H o w e v er, it n e e d s e m p h a siz in g th a t th e econom ic re fo rm w ill n o t b rin g a n y in s ta n ta n e o u s im p ro v e m e n t in th e fie ld of th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in p la n ts. E conom ic re fo rm is a co m plex, lo n g -la stin g p rocess. In s p ite of th e fa c t th a t it is a d v a n c e d to a s ig n i­ fic a n t d eg ree, it s till re m a in s in th e in itia l sta g e of its ap p lica tio n . N ot a ll of its m e c h a n ism s o p e ra te , som e fu n c tio n im p ro p e rly a n d m u st be re c tifie d . E v en if w e a ssu m e th a t th e p rocess of th e a p p lic a tio n of th e re fo rm w ill go on ac co rd in g to th e la id o u t p la n an d assu m p tio n s, one sh o u ld still ta k e th e fa c t in to ac co u n t th a t th e m e c h a n ism s of th e re fo rm p ro d u c e th e e x p e c te d e ffe c ts la te s t of a ll in th e s p h e re s of in v e s tm e n ts an d te c h n ic a l p ro g ress. As p ro v e d b y econom ic p ra c tic e , p la n ts a re in c li­ n e d m a in ly to o b ta in te m p o ra ry a c h ie v e m e n ts a n d n o t p e rs p e c tiv e ones, a n d th e y avoid a n y ris k c o n n e c te d w ith te c h n ic a l p ro g ress. In fla tio n a l p ro c esses a n d la c k of th e g e n e ra l b a la n c e in th e econ om y s tim u la te th e a c tiv ity of p la n ts in th e sam e d irec tio n .

II

As is k n o w n , th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss in a p la n t com es fro m a v a r ie ty of so u rces. In p ra c tic e , tw o ty p e s of so u rc es a re d istin g u ish e d : e x te r n a l an d in te r n a l ones. T h e fo r m e r in clu d e:

— re s e a rc h w o rk co n d u c te d b y th e P o lish A c ad em y of S cien ces an d in s titu tio n s o f h ig h e r ed u c a tio n ,

— stu d ie s c o n c e rn in g n e w c o n stru c tio n s of goods, p lastics, n e w m e th o d s of p ro d u c tio n w o rk e d o u t b y re s e a rc h in s titu te s , d e sig n in g d e ­ p a r tm e n ts , e x p e rim e n ta l c e n tre s,

*— fo re ig n s tu d ie s on n e w c o n stru c tio n s of goods w ith w h ic h th e p la n ts a re p ro v id e d in th e fra m e w o rk of licences,

— scien tific, te c h n ic a l, econom ic a n d o rg a n iz a tio n a l in fo rm a tio n p ro ­ v id ed b y sp e c ia liz e d c e n tre s , g e n e ra l p u b lic a tio n s an d th e p ro fe ssio n a l ones,

T h e in te rn a l so u rc es in clu d e:

— stu d ie s c o n c e rn in g n e w c o n stru c tio n s of goods, p lastics, te c h n o ­

9 J. P a j e s t k a , K. S e c o m s k i : D osk o n a len ie i fu n k c j o n o w a n i e g o s p o d a r ­

ki w P olsce L u d o w e j (The P e r f e c t in g an d th e F unctionin g of E c o n o m y in the P o ­ lish P e o p l e ’s R epublic). PW E, W arsaw 1968 p. 48.

P rereq u isites of D evelop m en t 3 1 3

lo g y an d o rg a n iz a tio n of p ro d u c tio n c a rrie d o u t b y th e sectio n s of th e h o m e te c h n ic a l base (for in stan ce , d e v e lo p m e n ta l d e p a rtm e n ts in a gi­ v en in s titu tio n , la b o ra to rie s, etc.),

— in v e n tio n s, u tility p a tte r n s an d im p ro v e m e n ts in th e s p h e re of th e c o n stru c tio n of goods an d tech n o lo g y of p ro d u c tio n , as w e ll as im ­ p ro v e m e n ts in th e o rg a n iz a tio n of p ro d u c tio n an d m eth o d s of w o rk p r e ­ se n te d b y th e w o rk e rs.

So one m a y co nclude th a t th e te c h n ic a l p ro g ress in a g iv en p la n t is d ev elo p ed m a in ly b y m e a n s of tw o ch an n els: 1) th ro u g h d e v e lo p m e n ta l

a c tiv ity of th e u n its of th e te c h n ic a l base, 2) th ro u g h th e w o rk e rs ’ in ­

v e n tiv e an d ra tio n a liz in g a c tiv ity . T he fo rm e r so urce of te c h n ic a l p ro ­ g re ss in a p la n t fa lls in to d e fin ite in s titu tio n a l fra m e w o rk s. T h e o th e r — th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e a c tiv ity a n d ra tio n a liz a tio n is an a c tiv ity w h ich is, in a sense, a sp o n ta n e o u s one, since to occup y h im se lf w ith in v e n tiv e p ro d u c tio n does n o t fa ll in to a w o r k e r ’s sp h e re of d u ties. T his h a s d e fi­ n ite o rg a n iz a tio n a l co n seq u en ces fo r th e g ro w th of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n ti­ v eness. O rg a n iz a tio n of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss in a p la n t re q u ire s a specific w a y of s te e rin g th e a c tiv ity of th e a u th o rs of in v e n tiv e p ro ­ jects, th e u tiliz a tio n of social fo rm s an d of a w id e se t of in s tru m e n ts of socio-econom ic p o lic y. 10 T h e co n v ey o rs of te c h n ic a l p ro g ress in a p la n t

a re m a in ly in v e s tm e n ts an d m o d e rn iz a tio n processes an d , to a s m a lle r d e g re e th o u g h n o t alw ay s, c o -o p era tio n w ith fo reig n in s titu tio n s an d th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e an d ra tio n a liz in g p ro jects.

T h e s itu a tio n of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss in th e c o n te x t of th e so u rc es an d co n v e y o rs of te c h n ic a l p ro g ress g e n e ra lly p re s e n ts th e place of in v e n tiv e p ro d u c tio n in a p la n t. It poin ts to th e fa c t t h a t th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss is an im p o rta n t b u t no d o u b t c o m p le m e n ta ry so u rc e an d co n v e y o r of th e te c h n ic a l a d v a n ce in a p la n t, 11 a close d e fin itio n of th is

p lace is possible o n ly w h e n one ta k e s in to co n sid e ra tio n all th e co n d i­ tio n s of m a n a g e m e n t in a p la n t, co n d itio n s w h ic h are d e te rm in e d b y th e s y s te m of a d m in is tra tio n . It is so becau se th e ra n g e a n d th e m e th o d s of u tiliz in g p a r tic u la r so u rc es a n d co n v ey o rs of th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss a re in flu e n c e d b y th e econom ic m ech a n ism of s tim u la tin g th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss in a p la n t.

10. A sim ilar v ie w is rep resen ted by M. S t a s z k ó w : W yn a la zczo ś ć p r a c o w ­

nicza w ś w i e t l e s y s t e m u p r a w n e g o P R L (The w o r k e r s ’ in v e n t iv e n e s s in th e light of th e Polish l a w s y s te m ) (in:) K ie r u n k i zm ia n o rg a n iza c y jn y c h w y n a la z c z o ś c i p r a ­ c o w n ic z e j w ś w i e t l e r e f o r m y g o sp o d a r c ze j (m a teria ły na ko n fe r e n c ję T N O iK ) (Di­ rectio n s of organizational changes of th e w o r k e r s ’ i n v e n t iv e n e s s in th e light of th e e c o n o m ic r e f o r m (m aterials for the confe rence of T N O iK ). L ublin 1983, p. 84.

III

In th e c e n tra lis tic -d ire c tiv e sy ste m of m a n a g in g th e econom y, th e basic fu n c tio n of a p la n t Li to acco m p lish th e p la n n e d ta s k s se t o u t b y th e c e n tr a l p la n n e r. T h e s itu a tio n w h e n th e c e n tr a l p la n n e r d ire c ts th e p la n ­ n in g ta sk s a n d w h e n th e e x e c u to r — th e p la n t, re ceiv es th e m m a y be tr e a te d as a k in d of a s tra te g ic g am e c o n sistin g in ch oo sing th e a p p ro ­ p ria te m e th o d s ,a n d m e a n s n e c e s s a ry fo r th e p la n ta s k s to be fu lfilled , In th is sy ste m , th e p la n t is in te r e s te d in ac co m p lish in g th e m in im u m p la n n in g ta s k s a n d th e m a x im u m q u o ta of m e a n s m a k in g th e fu lf il­ m e n t of th e ta sk s possible. S u c h a s tr a te g y gives p rio rity to e x te n siv e m e th o d s of in c re a s in g p ro d u c tio n , it en c o u ra g e s to g a th e r an d conceal p ro d u c tiv e re s e rv e s, it giv es p re fe re n c e to q u a n tita tiv e an d n o t q u a lita ­ tiv e effects, it gives rise to w a ste an d u n ec o n o m ic al m a n a g e m e n t, it d e ­ c rease s th e effe c ts of m a n a g e m e n t. T h e sy ste m of m a n a g e m e n t p re s e n ­ te d h e re does n o t c re a te a n y m o tiv a tio n to d ev elo p th e te c h n ic a l p ro ­ g re ss an d to u se d iffe re n t ty p e s of in n o v a tio n s in th e process of p ro ­ d u ctio n . As f a r as th e so u rc es an d co n v e y o rs of th e te c h n ic a l p ro g ress a re co n c ern e d , i t in d u c e s th e p la n t to choose th e e x tre m e so urces, to u se th e licences, a n d it b rin g s a b o u t m a n y in v e stm e n ts.

T h e s itu a tio n is ra d ic a lly d iffe re n t in d e c e n tra liz e d sy s te m of m a n a ­ g e m e n t w ith th e u se of th e in s tr u m e n ts of th e m a r k e t m ech a n ism , a t th e re a liz a tio n of w h ic h th e econo m ic re fo rm aim s. T he sy stem , as is kn o w n , aim s a t in c re a sin g th e effic ie n c y of m a n a g e m e n t th ro u g h : 1) g i­

v in g a w id e s p h e re of a u to n o m y to th e m a n a g in g b o a rd in a p la n t as re g a rd s th e c u r r e n t a n d s tra te g ic eco no m ic d ecisions, 2) b u rd e n in g o rg a n s

of a p la n t w ith th e ris k r e s u ltin g fro m th e d e c isio n -m a k in g , 3) th e c e n tr e ’s in d ire c t in flu e n c e on th e essen ce of d ecisio ns m a d e in a p la n t b y c re a tin g su c h econom ic c o n d itio n s w h ic h e n fo rce e ffe c tiv e m a n a g e ­ m e n t. It is su p p o sed th a t a f te r th e in -c o m in g m o del of m a n a g e m e n t has b een in tro d u c e d a n d th e s ta te of b a la n c e h a s b e e n ac h ie v ed in th e n a tio ­ n a l econom y, th e m e th o d s a n d th e s tr a te g y of m a n a g in g a p la n t w ill be s ig n ific a n tly ch a n g ed . In su c h a sy ste m , p la n ts w ill c o n s tru c t th e ir p la n s of socio-econom ic d e v e lo p m e n t (sh o rt- a n d lo n g -te rm ones) in d e p e n d e n tly a d ju s tin g th e ir goals a n d ta s k s s e t u p to th e ir o w n a b ilitie s an d d e m a n d s of th e m a rk e t. In su ch co n d itio n s, th e s tr a te g y of th e p la n t’s a c tiv ity assu m es a re a l sig n ifican c e w h ic h co n sists in e ffe c tiv e c a rry in g o u t th e lask s o u tlin e d in th e lo n g -te rm p lan , as it is a co n d itio n fo r th e o p tim u m econom ic p la n to be fu lfille d to a d a p t th e o p tim u m s tra te g y of a c tiv ity. 12

12 T eoria r o z w o j u g o s p o d a r k i s o c j a li s ty c z n e j (The T h e o r y of th e D e v e lo p m e n t of

P rereq u isites of D evelop m en t ...

315

Tn a p a ra m e tric a l sy ste m of m a n a g e m e n t, th e fu n d a m e n ta l stra te g ic aim s of a p la n t a re th e follow ing: s e ttin g u p an d re a liz a tio n of lo n g - - te r m ta sk s in th e fie ld of th e tech n ic al, o rg a n iz a tio n a l an d econom ic p ro g ress, a n d s triv in g a t ac h ie v in g econom ic d e v e lo p m e n t.13. W h ile con­ s tru c tin g p la n s of socio-econom ic d ev e lo p m e n t, p la n ts m u st ta k e into c o n sid e ra tio n d iffe re n t in te rn a l ch a n g eab le fa c to rs an d e x te r n a l fa c to rs an d con d itio n s, th e y m u st m ak e choices b e tw e e n a lte r n a tiv e so lution s, th e y m u s t m ak e te m p o ra l a rra n g e m e n ts of th e ta s k s to be re a liz e d. 14 T h ey

m u s t also im pose som e h ie ra rc h y on socio-econom ic ta sk s ac co rd in g to th e d eg ree of th e ir im p o rta n c e a n d u rg e n cy , an d to choose th e b e st s t r a ­ te g y e n a b lin g th e a c h ie v e m e n t of th e in te n d e d tasks. T his re q u ire s h ig h q u a lific a tio n s of th e m a n a g in g s ta ff em p lo y ed in a given in s titu tio n an d e ffic ie n t w o rk of all o rg a n iz a tio n a l section s of th e m a n a g in g board.

In o rd e r to a tta in th e above goals in th e p a ra m e tric a l sy ste m of m a ­ n ag e m e n t, th e p la n t’s in te re s t is b o th to m ax im alize ta sk s an d p ro fits, an d to m in im a liz e th e o u tlay s. As opposed to th e p re v io u s sy stem , th is one en c o u rag e s a p la n t to in te n s ify its m eth o d s of p ro d u c tio n , to give p rio ­ r ity to q u a lita tiv e a n d n o t q u a n tita tiv e effects, to w o rk o u t v a rio u s fo rm s of th e te c h n ic a l p ro g ress w ith special re g a rd to im p ro v e m e n ts an d in n o ­ v atio n s. In su ch conditions, th e tech n ic al, o rg a n iz a tio n a l an d econom ic p ro g re ss a n d th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss co n n e cted w ith it, becom e sig n i­ fic a n t co m p o n en ts of b o th th e g e n e ra l s tra te g y of a p la n t an d of th e s tra te g ie s of p a r tic u la r sections co n c ern in g fo r in sta n c e s ta rtin g a n ew p ro d u c tio n , in c re a sin g th e q u a lity of goods, a c tiv iz a tio n of th e sale óf goods, etc. H o w ev er, it sh o u ld be em p h asized th a t it is n o t e a sy to d e ­ fin e th e p lace of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss m o re e x a c tly on th e score of n u m e ro u s in te rn a l an d e x te r n a l co n d itio n in g s of th e pro cess of in v e n ­ tiv en ess. T h a t is w h y in th e fo llow ing p a r t of th e p a p e r a tte n tio n w ill be fo cu sed on th e fu n d a m e n ta l fu n c tio n s an d m o re im p o rta n t p re re q u is ite s of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t.

TV

T h e place of th e w o r k e r ’s in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t re s u lts fro m th e f o r m e r ’s su b sta n c e an d fu n c tio n . T he w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss, in n o v a ­ tio n s a re in s e p a ra b ly co n n e cted w ith th e p la n t’s a c tiv ity , w ith th e p ro ­ cess of p ro d u c tio n . I t is só b ecau se m a n ’s la b o u r as a conscious, p u rp o ­

13 The n otion of stra teg y is referred m ain ly to lon g-term a ctiv ities.

14 J. K w e j t: M e t o d y i stra teg ia zar zą d za n ia p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w e m p r z e m y s ł o ­ w y m (M eth ods and S t r a t e g y of M anaging an Indu s trial Plant). PWE, W arsaw 1976,

se fu l a c tiv ity c o n ta in s c re a tiv e ele m e n ts. M an, in th e co u rse of th e p ro ­ cess of p ro d u c tio n , is a lw a y s conscious of th e p u rp o se of h is w o rk an d th e m e th o d s le a d in g to th e cho sen aim , a n d h e s triv e s to w a rd s ac h ie v in g th is aim w ith th e le a s t e ffo rt. T his is th e essence of ra tio n a liz a tio n .

T he w o r k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss fu lfils th re e b asic fu n c tio n s in a p la n t: te c h n ic a l, econom ic a n d social ones. It is th e so u rc e of th e te c h n ic a l, o r­ g a n iz a tio n a l, econom ic a n d social p ro g ress. T h e v ario u s m a n ife sta tio n s of in v e n tiv e a n d ra tio n a liz in g m o v e m e n ts re v e a l fu lle r th e w h o le com ­ p le x econom ic a c tiv ity of a p la n t.

F ir s t a n d fo re m o st, th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s is a co n v e y o r of te c h ­ n ic a l an d te c h n o -o rg a n iz a tio n a l p ro g ress. T he re a liz a tio n of th is fu n c tio n r e s u lts in im p ro v e m e n ts in th e fie ld of: 1) te c h n iq u e s of p ro d u c tio n ,

2) te c h n o lo g y of p ro d u c tio n , 3) o rg a n iz a tio n of w o rk. 15 T e c h n o -o rg a n iz a ­

tio n al, im p ro v e m e n ts h a v e d e fin ite econom ic re p e rc u ss io n s since n ew so lu ­ tio n s o u g h t to be p ro fita b le a t th e sam e tim e. 16 T he m a jo rity of im p ro ­

v e m e n ts b rin g m e a s u ra b le econom ic effe c ts w h ic h can b e c a lc u la te d b y m e a n s of th e econom ic re c k o n in g , w h ic h is th e m ain c rite rio n of th e a p p lic a tio n of in v e n triv e p ro je c ts. T h is c rite rio n to g e th e r w ith th e p e r ­ fe c tio n of econom ic m e c h a n ism re s u ltin g fro m th e econom ic re fo rm w ill a ssu m e g r e a te r an d g r e a te r sig n ifican ce. H o w e v er, b esid es econom ic p u rp o se fu ln e s s a n d effe c tiv e n e ss, th e social p u rp o s e fu ln e s s of th e su g g e ­ s te d so lu tio n m u s t be also ta k e n in to c o n sid e ra tio n . C o m b in a tio n an d p ro ­ p e r w e ig h in g of th e tw o a sp e cts of th e e s tim a tio n is p a r tic u la rly im p o r­ ta n t in m a k in g decisions c o n c e rn in g p ro je c ts w h o se aim is to in c re a se th e s a f e ty an d r e lia b ility of th e w o rk in g of m a c h in e s an d d ev ice s. 17 M oreover,

th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s b rin g s a b o u t m a n y o th e r social a d v a n ta g e s w h ich , a lth o u g h in c o m m e n s u ra b le , a re v ita l fo r th e p ro p e r fu n c tio n in g of th e p la n t. G e n e ra lly , th e y a re c o n n e c te d w ith th e p e rfe c tin g of th e m o st im p o rta n t fa c to r of p ro d u c tio n , w h ic h m a n no d o u b t is. It is in th is sense th a t th e w o r k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s p e rfo rm s th e ro le of a s tim u ­ la to r of social p ro g re ss in a p la n t. U n d e re s tim a tio n of th is fu n c tio n of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s gives rise to o n e -sid e d e v a lu a tio n of th is p h e ­ n o m en o n , w h ic h is n o t fa v o u ra b le fo r d e v e lo p m e n t. In th e lig h t of th e s ta tu te fro m S e p t. 25, 1981 c o n c e rn in g s ta te in s titu tio n s , th e s u b je c ts th e m s e lv e s d ecid e u p o n y e a r ly a n d m a n y -y e a rs ’ p la n s of socio-econom ic

15 S i m i l a r l y B. M i s z e w s k i : P o s tę p e k o n o m i c z n y w g ospodarce p r z e m y ­

s ł o w e j (The Econ om ic P ro g re s s in th e I n d u s tria l E conom y). W arsaw 1968, pp. 54 ff.

18 С f. K. W a n d e 1 1: I s to ta i r o d z a je p o s t ę p u tech n iczn eg o (The ess en ce and

t y p e s of th e te c h n ic a l progress). P ozn ań 19Ш, p. 59:

17 B. P i l a w s k i : O bliczan ie e f e k t ó w e k o n o m i c z n y c h p o s t ę p u technicznego w p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w i e (The R e c k o n in g of Econ om ic E ffects of th e T echnic al Progress, in a Plant). PW E, W arsaw 1970, pp. 89 ff.

P rereq u isites of D evelop m en t _{3 1 7}

d e v e lo p m e n t. 18 T h e u n ity of th e fu n c tio n s discussed an d th e ir m u tu a l

c o n d itio n in g sh o u ld be re fle c te d in th e fo rm of th e in te g ra tio n of th e w h o le of th e u n d e rta k in g s aim in g a t d ev e lo p in g th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e ­ n ess in a p la n t.

T he basic c rite rio n of th e estim a tio n of th e econom ic effec ts of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t is no d o u b t th e sav in g s of liv e and o b je c tifie d la b o u r acco m p lish ed on th a t score. 19 The m ain aim of th e im ­

p ro v e m e n ts in th e fie ld of tec h n iq u e s of p ro d u c tio n is to im p ro v e th e te c h n ic a l p a ra m e te rs of th e m ean s of la b o u r a n d th ese in c re a se th e w o r­ k e r s ’ efficiency, th e re fo re b rin g in g sav in g s of liv e lab o u r. T h e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss re a liz e d th a n k s to th e im p ro v e m e n ts in tech n o lo g y m ean s th e p e rfe c tin g of th e m e th o d s of p ro d u c tio n w ith th e ap p lica tio n of th e p r e ­ s e n t tec h n iq u e s of p ro d u c tio n . T his ty p e of im p ro v e m e n ts b rin g sig n ifi­ c a n t savings of o b je c tifie d la b o u r in a p la n t. As it is seen in th e p u b lish e d s ta tis tic a l d a ta , th e sav in g s ac h ie v ed in P o lish econom y on th a t score a re s ig n ific a n t an d show h ig h d ynam ics. In th e y e a rs 1972— 1978 th e y in c re a se d tw o an d a h a lf tim es. In 1978 th e f ir s t place in th e s tr u c tu r e of econom ic effec ts w as ta k e n b y sav in g s co n c ern in g m a te ria ls a n d la ­ b o u r (o v er 60®/o), th e n follow ed th e effec ts ach iev ed ow ing to th e in ­ cre a se of p ro d u c tio n (over 1 0°/o), in tro d u c tio n of n ew p ro d u c ts (a p p ro x i­

m a te ly 1 2°/o) an d th e im p ro v e m e n t of th e q u a lity of p ro d u c tio n (alm o st

5% ) . 20 T his s tr u c tu r e of effects, fro m th e p o in t of view of d e v e lo p m e n ta l

s tr a te g y of a p la n t a n d th e c o n su m e r’s in te re st, is f a r fro m b ein g p ro ­ p er; th e p ro p o rtio n of effec ts ac h iev ed as a r e s u lt of th e in c re a se of p ro ­ d u ctio n , in tro d u c tio n of n e w p ro d u c ts, im p ro v e m e n t of th e q u a lity of p ro ­ d u ctio n . As it is k n o w n , th re e fu n d a m e n ta l p hases a p p e a r in th e s tra te g y of a p la n t: s ta y in g on th e m a rk e t a n d s ta b iliz a tio n , th e s tre n g th e n in g of its p osition , d ev e lo p m e n t a n d e x p a n s io n.21 M in im alizatio n of e x p e n d itu ­

re s c o n s titu te s to a c e rta in d eg ree a s ta tis tic a l fa c to r in th e p la n t’s a c ti­ v ity , w h e re a s its d e v e lo p m e n t a n d o p tim a liz a tio n of its effec ts re q u ire a g re a te r p ro p o rtio n of d y n am ic fa c to rs w h ic h b rin g m a x im u m incom es. In th e p re s e n t con dition s, d e v e lo p m e n t an d e x p a n sio n of a p la n t m a y be ac co m p lish ed th ro u g h in c re a sin g th e size of p ro d u c tio n ; a f te r th e m a rk e t h as b ee n s a tisfie d (w hen th e c o n s u m e r’s m a rk e t h a s been c reated ), d e v e lo p m e n t an d e x p a n sio n of a p la n t w ill be possible o n ly th ro u g h s y s te ­ m a tic in fu sio n of n e w boom in p ro d u c tio n an d th e im p ro v e m e n t of th e

18 Dz. U. from 1981, No. 24, item 122.

19 C f. J. G o r d o n : Z a r y s e k o n o m ik i p o stę p u technicznego (Outline oj th e

Econom ics of the Technic al Progress). W arsaw 1966, p. 170.

20 The resu lt tables of GUS. 21 K w e j t: op. cit., p. 230.

q u a lity of p ro d u c ts. T his p ro cess is in s e p a ra b ly co n n e cted w ith th e te c h ­ n ic a l p ro g ress a n d in n o v a tio n s.

In th e econom ic p ra c tic e , w e u se th e efficien cy ra tio u n d e rsto o d as th e p ro p o rtio n b e tw e e n th e effe c ts ac h ie v e d an d the. o u tla y s u sed in o rd e r to re c k o n th e p ro f ita b ility of a p p lie d in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts.22 T his r a ­

tio h a s re a c h e d th e v a lu e of a b o u t 8 zlo ty s in in d u s try in re c e n t y e a r s.23

A lth o u g h th is is an in a c c u ra te a n d s im p lifie d m e a su re , it co n firm s th e h y p o th e s is th a t th e w o rk e rs in v e n tiv e n e s s is a v e ry p ro fita b le fo rm of a c co m p lish in g th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss in a p la n t; it m a k e s th e in te n s ifi­ c a tio n of th e p ro c ess of p ro d u c tio n possible. T his h as p a r tic u la r im p o r­ ta n c e fo r th e p e rio d w h e n P o lish eco n o m y is com in g o u t of th e econom ic crisis; it w ill n o t lose its s ig n ific a n c e in th e fu tu re .

V

As h as a lre a d y b een p o in te d ou t, th e g ro w th of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n ti­ v en e ss in a p la n t is co n d itio n e d by a v a r ie ty of in te r n a l a n d e x te rn a l fa c to rs. T hese fa c to rs m a y be d iv id ed in to th r e e groups: te c h n o -p ro d u c ti- ve, econom ic, o rg a n iz a tio n a l an d social ones.

In th e f ir s t g ro u p , th e g ro w th of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s is in ­ flu e n c e d b y th e fa c to rs w h ic h c o n d itio n th e s tra te g y of th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e p la n t. T h ese in clu d e: 1) f u n d a m e n ta l tra n s fo rm a tio n of th e v o lu ­

m e of p ro d u c tio n so th a t it sh o u ld b rin g a b o u t a s ig n ific a n t in c re a s e of h o m e costs, im p ro v e m e n t of th e q u a lity of p ro d u c ts e n a b lin g to w in th e m a r k e t an d f u r th e r g ro w th of p ro d u c tio n , 2) s y s te m a tic m o d e rn iz a tio n of

p ro d u c ts, in tro d u c tio n of n e w a s s o rtm e n ts w h ic h m a y be lo cate d b o th on h o m e an d fo re ig n m a rk e ts in th is w a y b rin g in g ra w m a te ria ls an d m a te ria ls n e c e s s a ry fo r th e p ro d u c tio n of th o se artic le s, 3) tr e n d to w a rd s ac h ie v in g th e m in im u m p ro d u c tio n.24 In v e s tig a tio n s on th e in v e n tiv e

p ro d u c tio n p ro v e th a t f r e q u e n t ch a n g es in th e s tr u c tu r e of p ro d u c tio n , te c h n iq u e s a n d te c h n o lo g y of p ro d u c ts a re fa v o u ra b le fo r th e in v e n tiv e a c tiv ity in a p la n t. T h e lo n g e r' a g iv en a rtic le is p ro d u c ed in an u n c h a n ­ ged fo rm , th e m o re e x p lo ita tio n it u n d e rg o e s as fa r as in v e n tiv e n e s s is co n c ern e d , a n d th e re fo re p o ssib ilities to im p ro v e th e c o n s tru c tio n of p ro ­ d u c ts an d te c h n o lo g y of p ro d u c tio n a re g e ttin g sm a lle r. A n d vice v ersa, fr e q u e n t in tro d u c tio n of n e w p ro d u c ts o r ones w h ich a r e s ig n ific a n tly

22 W. S p u c h: E k o n o m iczn a analiza e f e k t y w n o ś c i p o s t ę p u technicznego w p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w i e p r z e m y s ł o w y m (E conom ic A n a l y s i s of the E fficien cy of the T eclinijal P ro g re s s in an I n d u s tr i a l Plant). PW E, W arsaw 1967.

23 The resu lt tab les of GUS. 24 K w e j t : op. cit., p. 241.

P rereq u isites of D evelop m en t 3 1 9

m o d ern iz ed , c re a te s p o ssib ilities fo r th e ir f u r th e r im p ro v e m e n ts. T his p h en o m en o n d efin e d as d im in u tio n or e n la rg e m e n t of. th e ’’in v e n tiv e m a ­ te r i a l ” h a s a sig n ific a n t in flu e n c e on th e size an d effec ts of th e w o rk e rs in v e n tiv e n e ss in a p la n t. H ere, one can n o tice th e fo llow ing re g u la ritie s:

1) n u m b e r of p re s e n te d an d a p p lied in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts a n d effec ts

ac h ie v e d th a n k s to th e ir a p p lic a tio n are g ro w in g w ith th e e n la rg e m e n t of th e ’’in v e n tiv e su b s ta n c e ” — in tro d u c in g n ew p ro d u c ts.

2) th e a m o u n t of effec ts fa llin g to one re a liz e d p ro je c t g ets s m a lle r

a f te r a n e w p ro d u c t h as b ee n in tro d u c e d b ecau se su b m ittin g sim p le p ro ­ je c ts w ill lo w e r th e te c h n ic a l v alu e; h o w ev er, th e in c re a sin g n u m b e r of p re s e n te d an d a p p lie d p ro je c ts co m p en sates th e ir w o rse te c h n ic a l v a ­ lue, giv ing rise to a s ig n ific a n t in c re a se of effec ts on th e g lob al scale, 3) econom ic efficien cy of ap p lied in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts grow s a f te r in tr o ­ d u c in g a n e w p ro d u c t as a re s u lt of a g re a t n u m b e r of sim p le p ro je c ts w h ic h can be d u p lic a te d in g re a t q u a n titie s an d w h ic h re q u ir e r e la ti­ v e ly sm all o u tla y s to be app lied . T h e re also ex ists a ca u sa tio n b e tw e e n th e size an d d y n am ics of p ro d u c tio n an d th e effects of th e w o rk e rs ’ in ­ v e n tiv e n e ss. It h as a tw o fo ld c h a ra c te r. In c rea se of p ro d u c tio n h a s a p osi­ tiv e in flu e n c e on th e in c re a se of th e effec ts of in v e n tiv e n e ss, w h e re a s in c re a se of th e effec ts of in v e n tiv e n e s s (for e x a m p le re d u c tio n of a p ro ­ d u c t’s la b o u r c o n su m p tio n in th e case of n a rro w b o ttle -n e c k s in p ro ­ d u ctio n ) re s u lts in th e in c re a se of p ro d u ctio n .

T h a t th e se re g u la ritie s do o ccu r in econom y is co n firm e d b y th e d ro p of in te r e s t in th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss in- p la n ts in th e p erio d of th e econom ic crisis. O n th is basis one can a n tic ip a te in c re a se of th e sig n ifi­ cance of th is m o v e m e n t in a p l a n t 'i n th e p h ase of g e ttin g th e econom y o u t of th e crisis a n d in th e p h ase of m ak in g p ro d u c tio n m o re d y n am ic. H o w ev er, it sh o u ld be s tre s se d th a t s tim u la to rs of th e g ro w th of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s re v e a l th e ir ■ fu ll p o w e r of in flu e n c e o n ly a f te r th e n a tio n a l econom y h a s ac h iev ed th e s ta te of g e n e ra l balan ce.

V I

A m ong th e econom ic fa c to rs in flu e n c in g th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e w o r­ k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss in a p la n t, an im p o rta n t p lace is occu pied by: 1) th e

size of fin a n c ia l o u tla y s a n d th e p rin c ip le s of th e fo r m e r’s a ssig n atio n , 2) le v e l of s a la rie s m e a n t fo r th e a u th o rs , 3) econom ic m e c h a n ism of th e fu n c tio n in g of th e p la n t w h ic h s tim u la te s or s tu n ts th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss an d in n o v atio n s.

u p of o u tla y s a p p r o p ria te d fo r s a la rie s fo r th e a u th o rs of in v e n tio n s (40— 80% ). T his is a co n se q u en ce of th e fa c t th a t liv e la b o u r c o n stitu te s th e m a jo r p a r t of th e p ro c ess of c re a tin g in v e n tio n s a n d im p ro v e m e n ts. T he h ig h p ro p o rtio n of s a la rie s fo r th e a u th o rs of in v e n tio n s in th e f in a n ­ cial o u tla y s m e a n t fo r th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s re s u lts also fro m hig h effe c ts w h ic h c o n s titu te th e fo u n d a tio n of e s ta b lish in g th e a m o u n t of sa la rie s m e a n t fo r th e a u th o rs a n d of th e a p p lic a tio n of sim p le so lu tio n s w h o se re a liz a tio n re q u ir e s re la tiv e ly sm a ll fin a n c ia l o u tla y s in p ro d u c ­ tio n. 25 It sh o u ld be s ta te d th a t th e p re v io u s s y s te m of s tim u li en c o u rag e d

to em p lo y sim p le p ro je c ts th e a p p lic a tio n of w h ic h did n o t re q u ir e h ig h o u tla y s. T his ty p e of p ro je c ts did n o t en g ag e ex cessiv e c irc u la tin g m ean s of th e p la n t, th e y did n o t b rin g a b o u t a n y d is tu rb a n c e s in th e w o rk of p ro d u c tiv e d e p a rtm e n ts a n d did n o t en g ag e a n y m o re w o rk e rs. A t p r e ­ se n t, th is s itu a tio n sh o u ld be g ra d u a lly im p ro v in g sin ce p la n ts h a v e got a s ig n ific a n t a u to n o m y in th e d isp o sal of th e fin a n c ia l m ean s fo r d e v e lo p m e n t, a n d th e n e w econom ic m e c h a n ism in c lin e d th e m to choose o p tim u m te c h n ic a l so lu tio n s. H o w e v er, it sh o u ld be em p h asiz ed th a t th e b in d in g p rin c ip le s of fin a n c in g th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss in p la n ts do n o t fo s te r th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss. T he in clu sio n of th s costs of in tro d u c to ry o p e ra tio n s a n d of th e re a liz a tio n of in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts in to th e b u lk of g e n e ra l costs re d u c e s th e p l a n t ’s p ro fits an d c o n s titu te s a k in d of a n ti-s tim u lu s fo r th e te c h n ic a l p ro g ress. T h e re fo re , w e sh o u ld a d m it th e p e rtin e n c e of a su g g e stio n to lessen ta x e s im p o sed on th e su m s of m o n e y m e a n t fo r re s e a rc h w o rk a n d th e te c h n ic a l p ro ­ g re ss in p la n ts. 26

I t is ob viou s th a t in c re a s e of th e o u tla y s fo r th e w o r k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e ­ n ess does n o t a lw a y s b rin g a b o u t p ro p o rtio n a l g ro w th of effects. T his re s u lts fro m th e specific c h a ra c te r of in v e n tiv e p ro d u c tio n a n d fro m th e fa c t th a t th e fu n d s la id o u t fo r th is p u rp o s e m a y b rin g ta r d y effects. T h e fin a n c in g of th e in v e n tiv e p ro d u c tio n h a s an e le m e n t of ris k w h ic h is, h o w e v er, m a d e u p fo r b y h ig h econ om ic effic ie n c y of th e ap p lie d in v e n ­ tiv e p ro je c ts.

F re e d o m of d isp o sin g of m o n e y in a p la n t re fe rs to th e e s ta b lish in g

25 U. W o j c i e c h o w s k a : F in a n so w a n ie p o s t ę p u tech n iczn eg o (Financing th e

Technic al Progress). W arsaw 1964, pp. 33 ff.

26 A. S z a j k o w s k i : U d z ia ł i n n o w a c j i te c h n ic z n y c h w p o d n o s z e n iu e k o n o ­ m i c z n y c h e f e k t ó w g o sp o d a r o w a n i a p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w a p a ń s t w o w e g o (The p ro p o r tio n of technical in n o v a t io n s in th e in cr ea se of econom ic effects of m a n a g in g a st a te plant) [in:] P r a w n o - e k o n o m i c z n e . w a r u n k i d zia ła n ia p r z e d s i ę b i o r s t w p a ń s t w o w y c h w o k re s ie w d r a ż a n i a r e f o r m y g o s p o d a r c z e j (m a te r i a ły na k o n fe r e n c ję T N O iK ) (L e­ gal an d econom ic co n d itio n s of the a c t i v i t y of s ta te p la n t s in th e p e r i o d of th e a p p li c a ti o n of the e c o n o m ic r e f o r m (m a t e r i a l s fo r th e co n fer en ce of T N O iK ). L ublin

P rereq u isites of D evelop m en t ₃₂₁

of th e a m o u n t of sa la rie s fo r a u th o rs of in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts to a g re a te r an d g re a te r e x te n t. O ne can o b serv e th e pro cess w h e re b y th e re c k o n in g a n d p a y in g sa la rie s a re becom ing less fo rm a l an d th e ir u p p e r lim it is r is in g.27 O ne is ju s tifie d in su p p o sin g th a t w ith th e g ro w th of th e e ffi­

cien cy of th e econom ic in s tru m e n ts of th e re fo rm , th e le g is la to r w ill give u p th e leg al re g u la tio n of th e salarie s of th e a u th o rs of in v en tio n s, le a ­ v in g th o se m a tte rs w ith in th e p ro v in ce of a given in s titu tio n . In th e g ro u p of econom ic fa cto rs, re s u lts of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss a re m o st in flu e n c e d b y th e econom ic m e c h a n ism of th e fu n c tio n in g of econom ic o rg a n iz atio n s, esp e cially th a t p a r t w h ich d e te rm in e s th e p la n t’s a b s o rp ti­ v en e ss fo r in n o v atio n s. J. M ujzel e n u m e ra te s th e fo llo w in g e le m e n ts of th e econom ic m e c h a n ism w h ic h sh o u ld in d u c e p la n ts to in v e stig a tio n s:

1) sy ste m of c e n tra l p la n n in g , 2) o rg a n iz a tio n a l s tr u c tu r e s an d tie s

b e tw e e n econom ic u n its, 3) m o tiv a tio n a l sy stem , 4) sy ste m of p ric e s fo r in n o v a tio n s, 5) sy ste m of th e fin a n c in g of in n o v atio n s. A ll th e se ele­ m e n ts of th e econom ic m ech a n ism of th e fu n c tio n in g of a p la n t o u g h t to s tim u la te d e v e lo p m e n t of th e te c h n ic a l th o u g h t an d th e a p p lic a tio n of th e l a t t e r ’s re su lts. T hese s tim u la to rs shou ld in clu d e all su b je c ts p a r tic i­

p a tin g in th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e te c h n ic a l p ro g ress in a p lan t: w o rk e rs em p lo y ed in th e d e p a rtm e n ts of th e te c h n ic a l base, th e p la n t’s b o ard of d ire c to rs an d th e staff; th e y sh o u ld in flu e n c e th e m a n a g e rs of th e in s titu tio n in a s tro n g e r w a y th a n do th e checks re s u ltin g fro m th e ris k c o n n e cted w ith th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re s s.28 S u ch co nd itio n s sh o u ld be c re a ­

te d in th e f u tu r e b y th e co m p etitio n issu in g fro m th e a ssu m p tio n s of th e a p p lie d econom ic re fo rm an d b y th e re d re s sin g of g e n e ra l b a la n c e in econom y

VII

A s ig n ific a n t p lace in th e g ro u p of o rg a n iz a tio n a l fa c to rs in flu e n c in g th e g ro w th of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss is ta k e n by th e o rg a n iz a tio n a l s tr u c tu r e of econom ic u n its. A g re a t m a jo rity of in n o v a tio n s re q u ir e th e c o -o p e ra tio n of econom ic u n its. T h e re fo re , it is n e c e ss a ry to c re a te su ch o rg a n iz a tio n a l b onds w h ic h w o u ld in d u ce a p la n t to c o -o p e ra te w ith

27 Cf. the sta tu te of the P rim e M inister from A u gu st 25, 1982 concerning the problem of an nouncing a uniform te x t of the statu te of the C abinet from D ecem ­ b er 11, 1972 on in v e n tiv e projects, Dz. U. No. 28, item 200.

*8 J. M u j ż e l : P ro c e sy in n o w a c y j n e i ich m e c h a n i z m e k o n o m i c z n y w gosp o ­

d a rc e p o ls k ie j (I n n o v a tiv e p rocesses and th eir econom ic m e c h a n i s m in Polish eco­ nom y]I [in:] In n o w a c je w p r z e m y ś l e (I nnovations in in d u s try ) ed. .by J. M ujżel and

K. P oznański, PWE, W arsaw 1981, pp. 49ff. 21 — A n n a le s..,

o th e r s u b je c ts in th e c re a tio n a n d a p p lic a tio n of te c h n o -o rg a n iz a tio n a l in n o v a tio n s. T his p o s tu la te assu m es sp ec ia l im p o rta n c e in m a rk e t econo­ m y w h e re th e riv a llin g in s titu tio n s m a y be in te re s te d in co ncealing th e te c h n ic a l a c h ie v e m e n ts. In th e n e w con d itio n s, th e ty p e of n e g a tiv e a t t i ­ tu d e s w ill n o t be e lim in a te d b y m e a n s of im p o sin g a n a d m in is tra tiv e o b lig atio n of s p re a d in g th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss on p la n ts, b u t b y m e a n s of c r e a tin g a d e q u a te o rg a n iz a tio n a l tie s a n d co n d itio n s fo r p a r tn e rs h ip issu in g fro m m a te r ia l stim u li.

T h e p ro b le m d iscu ssed h e re is c o n s id e ra b ly in flu e n c e d b y su ch fe a ­ tu r e s of th e o rg a n iz a tio n a l s tr u c tu r e as: size of econom ic o rg a n iz atio n s, p rin c ip le s of g ro u p in g in la rg e r o rg a n ism s, e la s tic ity of th e o rg a n iz a tio ­ n a l s tr u c tu r e in c re a s in g th e c a p a c itie s of a d a p ta tio n. 29 It sh o u ld be

e m p h a siz e d t h a t a lre a d y n ow , th e p la n ts e n jo y a w id e au to n o m y e n a b lin g th e m to choose th e o p tim u m o rg a n iz a tio n a l so lu tio n fo r d e v e lo p m e n t of th e te c h n ic a l p ro g ress. T hese, h o w e v er, c a n n o t be p e r ­ m a n e n t, u n iv e rs a l solutions., p ossible to be d u p lic a te d in o th e r o rg a n iz a ­ tio n a l u n its, b u t ones w h ic h w o u ld be c o n s ta n tly p e rfe c te d a n d a d ju s te d to th e c h a ra c te r of th e in s titu tio n a n d th e l a t t e r ’s sp ecific co n d itio n s of fu n c tio n in g . As fo r o rg a n iz a tio n a l so lu tio n s w ith in th e in s titu tio n , th e v a r ie ty of fa c to rs d e te r m in in g th e in n o v a tiv e p ro cesses p o in t o n ly to th e n e c e s s ity of clo ser in te g ra tio n of th e a c tiv ity of a ll o rg a n iz a tio n a l sec tio n s d e a lin g w ith th e p ro b le m of in v e n tiv e p ro d u c tio n .

T h e g ro w th of th e w o r k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t is co n sid e ra b ly in flu e n c e d b y a s e t of o rg a n iz a tio n a l fa c to rs c r e a tin g a fa v o u ra b le a tm o ­ s p h e re fo r e n g a g in g o n e se lf in in v e n tiv e p ro d u c tio n . H e re, one sh o u ld in c lu d e th e follow in g: 1) c o m p e te n t w o rk of o rg a n iz a tio n a l sectio n s

w h ic h d ire c t th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e in v e n tiv e m o v e m e n t a n d w h ic h a tte n d to th e a u th o rs of in v e n tio n s in in s titu tio n s , 2) c re a tin g a fa v o u ­

ra b le a tm o s p h e re f u r th e r in g th e c r e a tiv e a c tiv a tio n of th e w o rk e rs, 3) a d e q u a te a p p lic a tio n of th e s y ste m of id eo lo g ical a n d m o ra l s tim u li in ­ d u c in g th e a u th o rs to u n d e r ta k e th e in v e n tiv e p ro d u c tio n , 4) ra is in g th e ' lev el of th e te c h n ic a l k n o w le d g e a n d p ro d u c tiv e e x p e rie n c e of- w o rk e rs, 5) e n a b lin g th e a u th o rs of in v e n tio n s th e access to sc ie n tific a n d te c h ­ n ic a l in fo rm a tio n , 6) in s p irin g th e a u th o rs to u n d e r ta k e p ro p e r o b jects

fo r in v e n tio n s fro m th e p o in t of v iew of th e n e e d s of a g iv en in s titu tio n . As f a r as th is g ro u p of fa c to rs is co n c ern e d , n e w p rin c ip le s of th e fu n c ­ tio n in g of in s titu tio n s sh o u ld c re a te fa v o u ra b le co n d itio n s fo r th e in t e ­ g ra tio n of e ffo rts of th e m a n a g e m e n t of th e in s titu tio n an d its s ta ff

29 C f. L. B a l c e r o w i c z : S t r u k t u r a o r g a n iz a c y jn a y o s p o d a r k ï n a r o d o w e j a p o s t ę p te c h n i c z n y (The org a n iza tio n a l st r u c tu r e of th e n ational e c o n o m y and th e tech n ica l progress). „E k o n o m ista -’ 1979, No. 7 p. 1312.

P rereq u isites of D e v e lo p m e n t..

a ro u n d th e a c c o m p lish m e n t of co m m on ly fix ed aim s. H o w ev er, it is im ­ p e ra tiv e th a t th e se t of th ese u n d e rta k in g s sh o u ld be re fle c te d in th e p la n s of th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e tech n ic al p ro g ress in th e in s titu tio n .

VIII

O u t of th e g ro u p of social fa c to rs in flu e n c in g in c re a se of th e w o r­ k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e n e ss in a p la n t, one should p ay special a tte n tio n to th o se a c tiv itie s w h ich are co n n e cted w ith th e g ro w th of m a n ’s role in th e p ro ­ cess of p ro d u c tio n . H ere, one sh o u ld in clu d e th e u n d e rta k in g s w h ic h go in th e d ire c tio n of p ro fessio n al a n d social a c tiv a tio n of th e w o rk e rs, im ­ p ro v e m e n t of th e s e c u rity an d h y g ie n e of w o rk an d of social a n d liv in g co n d itio n s of th e staff, in te g ra tio n w ith th e in s titu tio n , th e s tre n g th e n in g of ties b e tw e e n th e m a n a g e m e n t an d th e sta ff, th e d e e p e n in g of th e p rocess of th e h u m a n iz a tio n of lab o u r. It is also v ita l fo r th e p ro b le m discu ssed h e re to b u ild u p th e w o rk e rs ’ con viction th a t th e y a re th e re a l su b je c ts of th e p rocess of p ro d u c tio n an d th a t th e y a re jo in t m a n a g e rs of th e in s titu tio n w ith e q u a l re s p o n sib ility fo r its econom ic s itu a tio n . S u c h a co n v ictio n is of v ita l im p o rta n c e as it e lim in a te s a n e g a tiv e p h e ­ n o m en o n d efin e d b y classics of M arx ism as th e a lie n a tio n of la b o u r. 30

I t sh o u ld b e stre s s e d th a t th e se a ttitu d e s are n o t c re a te d in th e w o rk e rs ’ co n scio usness sp o n ta n e o u sly , b u t th e y m u s t.b e c re a te d b y m e a n s of th e w h o le co m p lex of in s tru m e n ts an d in s titu tio n a l solu tio n s. T his p u rp o se is se rv e d , am o n g o th e r th in g s, 'b y d ev e lo p in g th e w o rk e rs ’ in te r e s t in in n o v a tiv e p ro d u c tio n a n d th e ir p a rtic ip a tio n in m a n a g in g th e i n s t i t u ­ tion.

T he g re a te s t ro le in th is g ro u p of fa c to rs is th e re fo re p la y e d b y m a n — th e s ta ff of th e in s titu tio n , th e f o r m e r’s p ro fessio n al a n d social s tr u c tu r e , esp e cially su c h s tr u c tu r a l e le m e n ts as: ed u c atio n , q u a lific a ­ tio n s, tim e of e m p lo y m e n t, age, sex, etc. In v e stig a tio n s on th e s tr u c tu r e of th e a u th o rs of in v e n tiv e p ro je c ts p o in t o u t th a t th e above fe a tu re s a re s ig n ific a n t fo r th e size an d effec ts of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in th e in s titu tio n . T h e re fo re , B. M ine is r ig h t in claim in g th a t th e d eg ree of p ra c tic a l u tiliz a tio n of p ro d u c tiv e ca p ab ilities an d q u a lific a tio n s of m a n p o w e r d e te rm in e s th e process of econom ic g ro w th. 31 A s im ila r a t t i ­

tu d e w as ta k e n b y O. L ange, w ho stre sse d th e im p o rta n c e of p sy c h o ­

30 K. M a r k s , F. E n g e l s : D zie ła (Works). V ol. I ll, K and W, W arsaw 1963, p. 627.

31 B. M i n c : Z a r y s s y s t e m u e k o n o m ii p o li ty c z n e j (Outline o / the s y s t e m oj

politica l econom y). W arsaw 1970, p. 580.

logical m o tiv a tio n am ong w o rk e rs in th e socialist p ro d u c tio n.32 It is e sp e ­

c ially in th e p re s e n t stag e of th e d e v e lo p m e n t of P o lish econom y th a t econom ic goals m a y be c a rrie d o u t o n ly to g e th e r w ith social ones. T he w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s is one of th e in s tru m e n ts of in te g ra tin g b oth of th e se goals in an in s titu tio n .

IX

T h e above c o n s id e ra tio n s p o in t o u t t h a t th e p re s e n t econom ic s i t u a ­ tio n a n d th e re fo rm of th e sy ste m of m a n a g e m e n t.n o w g oing on, a re fo v o u ra b le fo r th e d e v e lo p m e n t of in n o v a tiv e p ro cesses an d th e rise of th e ro le of th e w o rk e rs ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t. N e v e rth e le ss, th e n e w econom ic m e c h a n ism s w ill n o t solv e s p o n ta n e o u s ly an d im m e d ia te ly all co m p lex p ro b le m s c o n n e c te d w ith th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e w o rk e rs ’ in ­ v e n tiv e n e ss in a p la n t. Im p ro v e m e n t in th is fie ld w ill go on g ra d u a lly w ith th e p e rfe c tin g an d s tre n g th e n in g of n e w m ech a n ism s of m a n a g e ­ m e n t. C o n sid e ra tio n s in c lu d e d in th is p a p e r a re of m o d el c h a ra c te r, th a t is to say, th e y a r e fo u n d e d on in co m in g m e c h a n ism o f th e p re s e n t eco­ n o m ic re fo rm a n d on th is b asis th e y p o in t o u t p ro sp e cts of d ev e lo p in g th e w o rk e rs in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t.

In p la n n e d econom y, th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss a n d in n o v a tiv e processes in a p la n t c o n n e c te d w ith th e fo rm e r m a y n o t p ro ceed sp o n ta n e o u sly , b u t th e y m u s t be s te e re d b y th e c e n tre w ith th e h e lp of in s tru m e n ts of socio-econ om ic policy. T h is p u rp o se s h o u ld be se rv e d b y c u r r e n t and p e rs p e c tiv e p o licy of d e v e lo p in g th e te c h n ic a l p ro g re ss re s u ltin g fro m lo n g -te rm s tr a te g y of th e g ro w th of th e n a tio n a l econom y. S u c h policy com poses basis fo r th e c o n s tru c tin g of p ro g ra m m e s of te c h n ic a l ad v a n c e an d in n o v a tiv e pro cesses in a p la n t.

P la c e a n d ro le of th e w o r k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t is co n sid e­ ra b ly ch a n g ed in a p a r a m e tric a l s y s te m of m a n a g e m e n t. T h e s h ift of a p a r t of decisio n s of s tra te g ic c h a ra c te r fro m th e c e n tre to th e p la n t w ill in c re a se th e ro le of th o se econom ic s u b je c ts in th e p la n n in g of d e ­ v e lo p m e n ta l d y n a m ic s a n d te c h n ic a l ad v a n ce. S in c e th e ro le an d place of th e w o r k e r s ’ in v e n tiv e n e s s in a p la n t d e te rm in e a g re a t d eal of v a rio u s in te r n a l a n d e x te r n a l fa c to rs, i t is n e c e s s a ry to c o n d u c t s y s te ­ m a tic e m p iric a l re s e a rc h a im in g a t k n o w in g th e fo r m e r b e tte r and choosing th e o p tim u m te c h n o -o rg a n iz a tio n a l so lu tio n s.

32 O. L a n g e : P is m a e k o n o m i c z n e i s p o łeczn e 1930— 1960 (Economic and so-

P rzesłank i rozw oju. _{32 5}

S T R E S Z C Z E N I E

C elem artykułu jest ukazanie przesłan ek rozw oju, fu n k cji i m iejsca w y n a la z ­ czości pracow niczej w p rzed sięb iorstw ie p ań stw ow ym w św ie tle założeń reform y gospodarczej. W części w stęp n ej artykułu om ów iono p od staw ow e p ojęcia z zakresu w yn alazczości pracow niczej oraz znaczenie postępu technicznego dla w ych od zen ia gospodarki z kryzysu gospodarczego. W dalszej części om ów iono źródła i n ośn ik i postępu technicznego, uznając p rzedsiębiorstw o za głów n y podm iot rozw oju postępu

technicznego. O kreślając zn aczenie i w artość różnych sy stem ó w zarządzania

z punktu w id zen ia stym u low an ia postępu technicznego w przed sięb iorstw ie, zd ecy­ d ow an ie op ow iedziano się za param etrycznym system em zarządzania. M iejsce w y ­ nalazczości pracow niczej w przed sięb iorstw ie p ań stw ow ym zd eterm in ow an e jest różnorodnym i czynnikam i. N iem ałe znaczenie dla jej rozw oju m ają fu n k cje w y ­ nalazczości pracow niczej w przed sięb iorstw ie. Istotne znaczenie dla rozw oju w y ­ nalazczości pracow niczej w przed sięb iorstw ie m ają różnorodne u w aru n k ow an ia w e r w n ętrzn e i zew n ętrzn e o charakterze techniczno-produkcyjnym , ekonom icznym , or­ g an izacyjn ym i społecznym . D om inuje teza, iż n a jw ażn iejszym czyn n ik iem w pro­ cesie in n o w a cji jest człow iek, jego tw órcze zaangażow anie. A naliza uw aru n k ow ań procesu in n ow acji w p rzed sięb iorstw ie pozw oliła sform ułow ać w n iosk i, które m ają isto tn e zn aczenie dla p ow od zen ia reform y gospodarczej.

Р Е З Ю М Е Ц ель статьи — показать предпосы лки развития, ф ун к ц и и и м еста и зо б р е­ тательства работников государственны х предприятий в свете принципов эк о­ ном ической реф орм ы . Во вступительной части о б суж ден ы основны е понятия из области и зобретательства и зн ач ен и е технического прогресса для п реодолен и я эконом ического кризиса. В дальн ейш ей части рассмотрены источники и н о си ­ тели технического прогресса, с учетом предприятия как главного субъ ек та р а з ­ вития технического прогресса. О пределяя зн ач ен и е и ценность различн ы х систем управления с точки зрения стимулирования технического прогресса на пр едп р и ­ ятии, автор реш ительно вы сказы вается за параметрическую систему управления. М есто изобретательства на государственном предприятии обусловлено многими ф акторам и. Н ем аловаж ны зд есь его ф ун к ц и и на предприятии: сущ ествен н ое зн ач ен и е для его развития имеют различны е внеш ние и вн утренн ие условия п р ои зводствен н о-техн и ч еск ого, экономического, организационного и общ ествен ­ ного характера. Главным ф актором в п роцессе нововведений я вляется человек, его творческая активность. А нализ ф акторов, обусловливаю щ их процесс нов о­ в ведений на предприятии, позволил сф орм улировать выводы, имею щ ие сущ ст- вен ное зн ач ен и е для у сп ех а эконом ической реф ормы ,