CHAPTER 2 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT - TAYLORISM (CLASS 12)CBSE

Scientific management, also called Taylorism , is a theory of management that analyzes and synthesizes workflows. Its main objective is improving economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. It was one of the earliest attempts to apply science to the engineering of processes and to management. It is an important stream of the earlier schools of thought of management referred to as the Classical school .

It is developed by Frederick Taylor (1856-1915), leading proponent of scientific management.

In the words of Taylor, “Scientific management means knowing exactly what you want men to do and seeing that they do it in the best and cheapest way. The best results would come from the partnership between a trained and qualified management and a cooperative and innovative workforce. Each side needed the other. Therefore, it would be in order to discuss these principles

1)Science not Rule of Thumb: Taylor pioneered the introduction of the method of scientific inquiry into the domain of management practice.In the earlier days of the Industrial Revolution, in the absence of an established theory of factory organisation, factory owners or managers relied on personal judgment in attending to the problems they confronted in the course of managing their work. This is what is referred to as ‘rule of thumb’. Managing factories by rule of thumb enabled them to handle the situations as they arose but suffered from the limitation of a trial and error approach.

Taylor believed that there was one best method to maximise efficiency and that even a small production activity like loading pigs of iron into boxcars can be scientifically planned and managed --This method involved investigation of traditional methods through work-study , unifying the best practices and developing a standard method , which would be followed throughout the organization.

2) Harmony, Not Discord: 

Factory system of production implied that managers served as a link between the owners and the workers. Since as managers they had the mandate to ‘get work done’ from the workers. There always existed the possibility of a kind of class-conflict, the mangers versus workers. Taylor recognised that this conflict helped none, the workers, the managers or the factory owners. He emphasised that there should be complete harmony between the management and workers.

Taylor has referred to such a situation as a ‘Mental Revolution’ and firmly believed that the occurrence of a mental revolution would end all conflicts between the two parties and would be beneficial to both of them.-- Management should share the gains of the company and at the same time workers must work hard to change the company for good.

3) Cooperation, Not Individualism: There should be complete cooperation between the labour and the management instead of individualism. This principle is an extension of principle of ‘Harmony not discord’. Competition should be replaced by cooperation. Both should realise that they need each other.

For this, management should not close its ears to any constructive suggestions made by the employees. According to Taylor, there should be an almost equal division of work and responsibility between workers and management. Taylor was of the view that the concern for efficiency could be built in right from the process of employee selection. Each person should be scientifically selected. Then work assigned should suit her/his physical, mental and intellectual capabilities. To increase efficiency, they should be given the required training. Efficient employees would produce more and earn more.

4)Equal Division of ResponsibilityThis principle of scientific management emphasises determining the real nature of roles to be played by managers & workers at different levels. The management is responsible for planning and organising the work while the workers should execute the work assigned to them by their managers. 

5)Maximum Success for Employer & Workers:This principle states that organizations should take care that managers and employees are being allotted work according to their ability and interest and even paid accordingly. The aim of scientific management is to maximize the prosperity of both managers and employees. It is possible only when each worker gets opportunity to attain the highest level of efficiency. 

With maximum output & optimal utilization of resources, employers can gain higher profits and workers can get better wages. Organizations should follow the principle of “maximum output in place of restricted output”.