Production activities of young workers and their stimulation in the 1960s-1970s (by a case study of enterprises of the South Urals)

The paper discussed the economic development of the South Urals during the eighth and ninth five-year plans (1966-1975). By a case study of particular enterprises, the authors considered different forms of youth involvement in rationalization and invention (competitions, technical creativity contests) and their economic efficiency. The emphasis was placed on the reasons for the decrease in popularity of innovators movement. The research described the activities of integrated and cross-cutting teams based on a single work package, i.e. labor force participation rate helped evaluate the personal contribution of each team member to labor achievements and determine the wage rate. The paper revealed the reasons for failure to support this approach by skilled workers during the ninth five-year plan. The authors noted that mass media contributed significantly to the dissemination of information on the best innovators and accelerated technological progress in the industrial enterprises of the South Urals. The research highlighted the role of public organizations such as permanent production meetings, bureaus of economic analysis and labor regulation, innovators councils in attracting young people to production management.