Principles of Management
Taylor's scientific management
Describe each principle of scientific management with an example.
F. W. Taylor, an American engineer, is called the father of scientific management. He believed there is one best way to do any job, and it can be found by study and experiment.
His four principles:
- Science, not rule of thumb. Before Taylor, managers worked by rule of thumb: personal judgement and trial and error. Taylor replaced it with the one best method, found by scientific study.
- Harmony, not discord. Managers and workers should see each other as partners, not enemies, and share the gains. This needs a complete change of attitude on both sides: a mental revolution.
- Cooperation, not individualism. This extends the previous principle: management listens to workers' suggestions and rewards good ideas; workers do not go on strike or make unreasonable demands; and work and responsibility are divided almost equally between them.
- Development of each person to his greatest efficiency. Workers should be selected scientifically, given work that suits them, and trained. Efficient workers earn more, and the firm gains too.
These principles worked: at Bethlehem Steel, Taylor's methods raised productivity about three times.
One best way, by both sides together.
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