Taylor’s Scientific Management Theory Influences on Contemporary Management
The Scientific Management Theory (SMT) was born, in 1911, with the publication of a book titled "Principle of Scientific Management" by Frederick Winslow Taylor. The foundation of this Theory is based on using proven facts instead of opinions; gut feelings or tradition to lay out effective managerial decisions (Taylor, 1911). At the time, this was a revolution in itself proposing a new scheme of toughs surrounding management.
The Scientific Management Theory 101
The conclusions from Taylor's experiments and observations at Midvale Steel are extensive, but historically summarized in 4 core Principles that defines Taylor's management theory (adapted from Bagad, 2009):
1- Standardisation of work process: Scientifically evaluate every worker's task to identify one best way to do it.
2- Recruiting a first class workforce: Scientifically select and train workers using proven methods.
3- Mutual Collaboration: Management provides all the tools to employees so they can use proper work methods, such as standard proc...
...understand the benefits of working together toward a common goal, setting aside the traditional roles of manager and subordinate and hopefully opening up the workplace as a creative outlet for all who work there.
Management Theorists such as F.W Taylor created the concept of scientific management, which is made up of six key aspects including observation, experiment, standardisation, selection and training, payment by results and co-operation. Despite some facets of his theory becoming outdated, scientific management can still be seen in the some way in current business structures. For example within Virgin, despite its reputation for having a relaxed working environment, some aspects of scientific management are used. Such as the selection and training and payment by results, with certain employees being offered rewards for showing ambition to set up their own businesses and showing signs of creative thinking.
Compare and contrast the management theories of Frederick Taylor, Henri Fayol, Elton Mayo and Douglas McGregor. In what sense(s) are these theories similar and/or compatible? In what sense(s) are these theories dissimilar and/or incompatible? How would a contingency theorist reconcile the points of dissimilarity and/or incompatibility between these approaches?
Wrege, C. D. and R. G. Greenwood (1991). Frederick W. Taylor, the father of scientific management: myth and reality: Irwin Professional Pub.
In the article entitled “The Human Side of Enterprise” by Douglas Murray McGregor , McGregor stated that industry has fundamental know how to utilize physical and technology science. The conventional view of management consisted of three propositions which are called Theory X (Shafritz & Hyde,2012).
The major change came through the work of Fredrick Winslow Taylor and his theory of scientific management system. It was not that Taylor was unique or completely new; only time and motion study could be put in that category. The trend was already moving towards systematic management such as formal management methods or by cost ...
With reference to a contemporary example discuss the relevance of Taylor’s Principles of Scientific Management to organisations today.
I agree with the statement above on the basis that communication is the most important thing when it comes to working in unison.
Taylor’s scientific approach is based on the planning of work to achieve efficiency, standardization, specialization and simplification. Factories are managed through scientific methods and productivity is increase through a mutual trust between management and workers. Weber's bureaucratic approach embellishes the scientific management theory and focuses on dividing organizations into hierarchies, establishing strong lines of authority and control. Weber believed that organizations are accountable to and part of a broader the social order.
Organizations use teamwork because it increases productivity. This concept was used in corporations as early as the 1920s, but it has become increasingly important in recent years as employ...
Scientific Management theory arose from the need to increase productivity in the U.S.A. especially, where skilled labor was in short supply at the beginning of the twentieth century. The only way to expand productivity was to raise the efficiency of workers.
Scientific management is a theory of management that analyzed and synthesized workflows. Its main objective was improving economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. It was one of the earliest attempts to apply science to the engineering of processes and to management. Its development began with Frederick Winslow Taylor in the 1880s and 1890s within the manufacturing industries. Its peak of influence came in the 1910s; by the 1920s, it was still influential but had begun an era of competition and syncretism with opposing or complementary ideas. Although scientific management as a distinct theory or school of thought was obsolete by the 1930s, most of its themes are still important parts of industrial engineering and management today.
Management plays a significant role in how business operates. The diversity of approaches to the theoretical and practical background of management has come up with several versions of what is meant by such key words as management and organization. The academia views expressed in relation to management theories take a different role than that prescribed to managers. There has not been any concrete definition of management even though the classic definition of Henri fayol still remains in contention to be the preferred choice after eighty years. In the context of what is required I would like to elaborate on the following journals.
Scientific management is governed by laws, rules and principles which are clearly defined hence they can be used in all social activities. It can be used to manage non-profit institutions, homes, churches, businesses, farms, universities and government agencies. It is therefore important in organizations for increasing efficiency and ensuring that there is no waste which is a major problem in organizations. This paper will discuss the main features of scientific management and how it relates with modern management models. It will also focus on the relevance of scientific management in modern business organizations (Hollway, 2002).