Norm Staff Studies in the World and in Turkey: History and Applications

The concept of norm staff is an age-old practice aimed at efficiently organizing employment in administrative structures. This concept has developed its foundations on century-old systems and staff arrangements. Historically, it was first emphasized during the Karahanlılar period in works like Kutadgu Bilig, where the necessity for a fair management approach in determining staff positions was highlighted. During this period, the responsibilities of tasks and the qualifications required for specific positions were defined. In Anatolia, normative staff arrangements became one of the fundamental principles of management during the Great Seljuk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire periods. During the Ottoman era, the "Second Kanunname" issued by Fatih Sultan Mehmet is a significant example of the applications of norm staff. In Europe, this concept was learned from the Ottomans, initially adopted in England and France, and then spread to the United States. 

In the United States, norm staff practices and the Position Classification system gained significant popularity towards the late 19th century to manage the workforce efficiently. In these practices, positions are evaluated as independent units and classified according to certain criteria based on their level of responsibility. This method ensures standardization in aspects such as tasks, responsibilities, and remuneration. Frederick Winslow Taylor, with his scientific management approach developed to increase labor productivity, played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of norm staff practices in America. 

In countries like England, France, and Germany, the rank system of personnel classification is prevalent. In this system, employees' titles remain fixed regardless of their duty stations, and employees are classified into specific service groups. In staff arrangements, remuneration is standardized independently of the position's qualifications. These practices continue in various sectors today to enhance workforce efficiency in many countries. 

In Turkey, norm staff practices are conducted in various sectors, with significant steps taken particularly in healthcare and education. The limited number of healthcare personnel in the early years of the Republic increased with improvements made during Refik Saydam's tenure. Research conducted by Carl E. Taylor, Rahmi Dirican, and Kurt W. Deuschle in the 1960s contributed to the development of scientific foundations for health manpower planning in Turkey. Institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Higher Education Council, and the State Planning Organization (DPT) play a decisive and executive role in health manpower planning. 

Staffing regulations used in hospitals determine norm staff based on bed capacity according to the size of the hospital. However, this system makes it difficult to meet needs fully, as the requirement for healthcare personnel cannot be flexibly adjusted according to patient demand. 

Yaşar, G. (2010). Norm Staff Studies for Improving Performance: Operating Room Application (Master's thesis). Dokuz Eylül University, Institute of Social Sciences.