Question 10.SP.6: To obtain the estimate of time a worker is busy for a work s...

To obtain the estimate of time a worker is busy for a work sampling study, a manager divides a typical workday into 480 minutes. Using a random-number table to decide what time to go to an area to sample work occurrences, the manager records observations on a tally sheet like the following in Figure 10.SP.6a:

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In this case, the supervisor made 20 observations and found that employees were working 80% of the time. So, out of 480 minutes in an office workday, 20%, or 96 minutes, was idle time, and 384 minutes were productive. Note that this procedure describes that a worker is busy, not necessarily doing what he or she should be doing.

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