Frederick Winslow Taylor The Principles of Scientific Management

Frederick Winslow Taylor The Principles of Scientific Management

Frederick Taylor: The father of Scientific Management n n American Engineer from Philadelphia Published the book “ The principles of Scientific Management in 1911 “ ONE BEST WAY” In tomorrow’s enterprise the knowledge worker will freed to release creative energy that will result in an era of enormous innovation and discovery, fulfilling the potential and promise of the mind. F. W. Taylor

Scientific Management Taylor became interested in improving worker productivity early in his career when he observed gross inefficiencies during his contact with steel workers n Sometimes we do not work with our ultimate power…. n Less efficiency than usual

Soldiering Taylor observed the phenomenon of workers purposely operating well below their capacity. He attributed soldiering to 3 causes 1. 2. 3. Workers believe that if they became more productive fewer of them will be needed and jobs will be eliminated. Non incentive wage system encourage low productivity. They fear that management will decrease their per-unit pay if the quantity increases. Workers waste much efforts by relying on rule –of-thumb methods rather than on optimal work methods that can be determined by scientific study of the task. To counter soldiering and to improve efficiency, Taylor began to conduct experiments to determine the best level of performance for certain jobs and what was necessary to achieve this performance

“Time and Motion Studies” n To scientifically determine the optimal way to perform a job Taylor performed experiments that he called time studies. These studies characterized by the use of stopwatch to time a worker’s sequence of motion with the goal of determining the one best was to perform job. EXAMPLES PIG IRON THE SCIENCE OF SHOVELLING BRICKLAYING

Taylor’s 4 principles of Scientific management n 1. 2. 3. 4. After years of various experiments to determine optimal work methods Taylor proposed the following 4 principles of scientific management Evaluate a task by scientifically studying each part of the task Carefully select workers with the right abilities for the task Give workers the training and incentives to do the task with the proper work methods Use scientific principles to plan the work methods and ease the way for workers do their jobs.

Taylor’s contribution to organizational theory While scientific management principles improved productivity and had substantial impact on industry they also increase the monotony of work and in some cases the use of stop watches often was protested and led to strike. In 1911 and 1912 Taylor was questioned by a special committee of the US House of Representatives. As a result laws were passed banning the use of stop-watches by civil servants and it was only in 1949 that this restriction was lifted. Taylor’s view of the motivations of workers had a profound influence throughout the century until the present day. There was strong criticism of this theory that treats human beings like machines and assumes that workers are only satisfied by money. Anyway Taylor’s impact was so great because he developed a concept of work design, work measurement, production control and other functions. BEFORE SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT SUCH DEPARTMENTS AS WORK STUDY, PERSONNEL, MAINTENANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL DID NOT EXIST.

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