In a fundamental sense, scientific management is
an attitude and a philosophy which discards the traditional hit-and-miss and
rule-of-thumb method of managing work and workers; it means the acceptance and application of the
method of scientific investigation for the solution of the problems of
industrial management.
Definition: scientific
About: Frederick Winslow
an attitude and a philosophy which discards the traditional hit-and-miss and
rule-of-thumb method of managing work and workers; it means the acceptance and application of the
method of scientific investigation for the solution of the problems of
industrial management.
Definition: scientific
management
“scientific management means
knowing exactly what you want men to do and seeing they do it in the best and
cheapest way.”
knowing exactly what you want men to do and seeing they do it in the best and
cheapest way.”
About: Frederick Winslow
Taylor
v Frederick Winslow Taylor (20 march 1856-21 march 1915),
widely known as F.W. Taylor, was an American mechanical engineer who wanted to
improve industrial efficiency.
widely known as F.W. Taylor, was an American mechanical engineer who wanted to
improve industrial efficiency.
v He is regarded as the father of scientific management, and
one of the first management consultants.
one of the first management consultants.
v Taylor though that by scientifically, work would be possible
to find ‘one best way to do it’.
to find ‘one best way to do it’.
PRINCIPLE OF
SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT
TAYLOR’S idea set the basis for laying down the principles of scientific management that
aimed at maximizing production and efficiency of every worker and design a system that enabled maximization of operations between employees and employers.
These principles are discussed here:
aimed at maximizing production and efficiency of every worker and design a system that enabled maximization of operations between employees and employers.
These principles are discussed here:
(1) SCIENCE, NOT RULE
OF THUMB
Rule-of-thumb methods are
traditional approaches that suited organizations in the past. Under mass
production, the volume of work had expanded that require scientific methods to
manage and control work easily. Accordingly, Taylor suggested that methods of
particular business activity should be scientifically studied prior to their
application to avoid mistakes. He suggested introducing standardized and
guaranteed approaches that led to efficiency in operations.
traditional approaches that suited organizations in the past. Under mass
production, the volume of work had expanded that require scientific methods to
manage and control work easily. Accordingly, Taylor suggested that methods of
particular business activity should be scientifically studied prior to their
application to avoid mistakes. He suggested introducing standardized and
guaranteed approaches that led to efficiency in operations.
Example, a
textile factory consists of 350 workers and there are seven different units within this factory each of
these units were assigned with a specialist foreman who has knowledge and
experience regarding that particular activity. There will be seven specialist foremen who will be assigned with
50 workers each distributed among five business units.
textile factory consists of 350 workers and there are seven different units within this factory each of
these units were assigned with a specialist foreman who has knowledge and
experience regarding that particular activity. There will be seven specialist foremen who will be assigned with
50 workers each distributed among five business units.
(2) HARMONY, NOT
DISCORD
Under this principle, workers
and management should work in harmony with mutual cooperation and coordination.
Works should not be overburdened with work , while should not feel dissatisfied with their
investment of time and money in an organization. According to Taylor a firm can
achieve maximum prosperity if workers and management work with each other
leading to development of a cordial relationship with each other and team
spirit, and organizational goals can be achieved easily.
and management should work in harmony with mutual cooperation and coordination.
Works should not be overburdened with work , while should not feel dissatisfied with their
investment of time and money in an organization. According to Taylor a firm can
achieve maximum prosperity if workers and management work with each other
leading to development of a cordial relationship with each other and team
spirit, and organizational goals can be achieved easily.
EXAMPLE, workers are assigned
to work by one superior. These superiors are allocated separate bureaucratic
powers and can divide the particular activity into several tasks depending upon
the complexity of the activity. They act as disciplinarians, mediator’s during
disputes and review worker’s performance. Such relationship between workers and
superiors is necessary as it creates harmony and avoids confusion along with
conflict.
to work by one superior. These superiors are allocated separate bureaucratic
powers and can divide the particular activity into several tasks depending upon
the complexity of the activity. They act as disciplinarians, mediator’s during
disputes and review worker’s performance. Such relationship between workers and
superiors is necessary as it creates harmony and avoids confusion along with
conflict.
(3) COOPERATION, NOT
INDIVIDUALISM
In continuation with the
earlier point, it is coordination and not individualism that will assist in achieving
organizational goals, cooperation is an action of working together and Taylor
states employees and management should cooperate with each other that could
lead to high morale and team spirit. In the earlier example on harmony between
workers and superiors, workers are expected to cooperate and undertake
responsibility and accountability for completion of work. As soldering led to
underwork and individualism, Taylor observed that factories endured excessive costs
and wastage of resources.
earlier point, it is coordination and not individualism that will assist in achieving
organizational goals, cooperation is an action of working together and Taylor
states employees and management should cooperate with each other that could
lead to high morale and team spirit. In the earlier example on harmony between
workers and superiors, workers are expected to cooperate and undertake
responsibility and accountability for completion of work. As soldering led to
underwork and individualism, Taylor observed that factories endured excessive costs
and wastage of resources.
(4) DEVELOPMENT OF
EACH AND EVERY PERSON TO HIS OR HER GREATEST EFFICIENCY AND PROSPERITY
Taylor suggested that all
possible human efforts should be utilized
maximally leading to efficiency and prosperity for the workers and the
business. This means that workers with suitable skills and capabilities should
be fittingly considered for certain activities in an organization. This also
means that works should be employes for specific and specialized activities
that possibly requires minimal efforts and eliminates errors and wastage of
resources.
possible human efforts should be utilized
maximally leading to efficiency and prosperity for the workers and the
business. This means that workers with suitable skills and capabilities should
be fittingly considered for certain activities in an organization. This also
means that works should be employes for specific and specialized activities
that possibly requires minimal efforts and eliminates errors and wastage of
resources.
EXAMPLE, well build worker who
can carry a certain load or weight should be given the responsibility to carry
gunny bags of products into the firm. A weak-build with no experience or idea
about carrying any load but relevant experience in a certain field (like
accounting) is given a specific job ( like an accountant) that involves minimal
manual work.
can carry a certain load or weight should be given the responsibility to carry
gunny bags of products into the firm. A weak-build with no experience or idea
about carrying any load but relevant experience in a certain field (like
accounting) is given a specific job ( like an accountant) that involves minimal
manual work.