5. Frederick w. Taylor’s approach to management.

No one has had more influence on managers in the twentieth century than Frederic W. Taylor, an American engineer. He set a pattern for industrial work which many others have followed, including Henry Ford and Vladimir Lenin.

Taylor founded the school of Scientific Management just before the 1914-18 war. He argued that work should be studied and analysed systematically. The operations required to perform a particular job could be identified, then arranged in a logical sequence. After this was done, a worker’s productivity would increase, and so would his or her wages. This new method was scientific and a factor of producing the best results. If the worker followed the prescribed approach, his or her output would increase.

Taylor studied how to improve the efficiency of workers on the shop floor. He conducted many experiments to find out how to improve their productivity. His solutions to these problems were, therefore, based on his own experience. Later, he wrote about his experiments. These writings were collected and published in 1947, in a work entitled Scientific Management.

He criticized management and workers in factories and wanted to adopt a new approach to their work. The new way was as follows:

1. Each operation of a job was studied and analysed.

2. Using this information, management worked out the time and method for each job, and the type of equipment to be used.

3. Work was organized so that the worker’s only responsibility was to do the job in the prescribed manner.

4. Men with the right physical skills were selected and trained for the job.

Taylor made a lasting contribution to management thinking. His main insight, that work can be systematically studied in order to improve working methods and productivity, was revolutionary. Also, he correctly emphasized that detailed planning of jobs was necessary. And although his approach to management has been criticized, his books were translated into many languages, factories all around the world were organized according to his methods and his ideas are still of practical importance.

6. Advantages and disadvantages of the theory of Scientific Management.

No one has had more influence on managers in the twentieth century than Frederic W. Taylor, an American engineer. He set a pattern for industrial work which many others have followed.

Taylor founded the school of Scientific Management just before the 1914-18 war. He argued that work should be studied and analysed systematically. The operations required to perform a particular job could be identified, then arranged in a logical sequence. After this was done, a worker’s productivity would increase, and so would his or her wages. This new method was scientific and a factor of producing the best results. If the worker followed the prescribed approach, his or her output would increase.

He criticized management and workers in factories and wanted to adopt a new approach to their work. Observing, analising, measuring, specifying the work method, organizing and choosing the right person for the job – these were the tasks of management.

And Taylor’s approach produced results! Taylor and his colleagues greatly increased productivity at Bethlehem Steel. After a few years, the same amount of work was done by 140 workers instead 500. Handling cost of materials were halved, which led to annual savings of $80,000.

The cons of his approach were that it focused on the system of work rather than on the worker. With this system the worker becomes a tool in the hands of management. Another criticism is that it leads to de-skilling of workers. Because the tasks are simplified, workers become frustrated. Finally, some people think that it is wrong to separate doing from planning. The two tasks can, and should, be done by the same person. A worker will be more productive if he or she is engaged in such activities as planning, decision-making, controlling and organizing.

In conclusion, I should say that although Taylor’s approach to management has been criticized, his ideas are still of practical importance.