SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT – F.W. TAYLOR’S

SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT THEORY – F.W. TAYLOR’S 

Scientific management, also called Taylorism, was 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.

Throughout his life career, Taylor had observed that there was excessive inefficiency in the management and functioning of industrial enterprises. In fact, the primary blame for the inefficient functioning of industrial enterprises was put by Taylor on management; for it was management who did not know what constituted a fair day’s task and also the ‘best way’ of doing the same. Therefore, he came out with his new concept of management, called scientific management.

SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT DEFINED:

F W. Taylor defined scientific management as, “Scientific Management consists in knowing what you (i.e. management) want men to do exactly; and seeing to it that they do it in the best and the cheapest manner.”

PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT:

The fundamental principles, which would support the concept and practice of scientific management, are the following:

Following is a brief comment on each of the above principles of scientific management.

i.         Science, not the rule of thumb. The basic principle of scientific management is the adoption of a scientific approach to managerial decision making; and a complete discard of all unscientific approaches, hitherto practiced by managements.

ii.         Harmony, not discord. Harmony refers to the unity of action; while discord refers to differences in approach.

iii.         Co-operation, not individualism. Co-operation refers to working, on the part of people, towards the attainment of group objectives; while regarding their individual objectives-as subordinate to the general interest.

iv.         Maximum production, in place of restricted production. In Taylor’s view the most dangerous evil of the industrial system was a deliberate restriction of output. As a means of promoting the prosperity of workers, management and society, this principle of scientific management emphasizes on maximising production and not deliberately restricting it.

v.         Development of each person to the greatest of his capabilities. Management must endeavor to develop people to the greatest of their capabilities to ensure maximum prosperity for both-employees and employers.

vi.         A more equal division of responsibility between management and workers. The principle of scientific management recommends a separation of planning from execution. According to this principle, management must be concerned with the planning of work; and workers with the execution of plans.

vii.         Mental revolution on the part of management and workers. According to Taylor, scientific management, in its essence, involves a complete mental revolution on the part of both sides to industry viz. workers and management (representing employers).

In fact, this principle of scientific management is the most fundamental one ensuring success of it. It is like the foundation on which the building of scientific management must be erected.