Propaganda campaign urged workers to beat targets
Although the plan was scheduled to last 5 years, propaganda urged workers to complete targets in 4!
Stakhanovism campaign. Alexei Stakhanov was a minor who organized his team to cut 102 tons of coal in a shift – his target was 7 tons! (1934). He was used as propaganda. Workers who exceeded targets received a medal, or higher wages - Stakhanov workers could earn 1,500 to 2,000 rubles or more a month, as compared with the average monthly wage of 250 roubles. But by 1934, the government stopped promoting Stakhanovism, which suggests they knew such propaganda was ineffective.