Extraordinary targets set for workers.
Targets set by GOSPLAN (state planning commission)
Targets were set for every industry, each region, each mine and factory, each foreman and even every worker! This was thought necessary because most industrial workers were former peasants, who were used to working at their own speed.
Failure to meet targets resulted in an increase in the target and/or a wage cut!
Focus on targets meant managers were more interested in quantity than quality, so there was a lot of waste and a lot of accidents, as safety standards were ignored