Taylor’s Scientific Management

Taylor thought that by scientifically analysing work, it would be possible to find ‘one best way’ to do it.

He is most remembered for his time and motion studies. 

He would break a job into its component parts and measure each to the second.

He also wanted workers to cooperate with the management and thus there would be no need for trade unions.

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.  

He is known for coining the term ‘Scientific Management’ in his article ‘The Principles of Scientific Management’ published in 1911.

Scientific management means knowing exactly what you want men to do and seeing that they do it in the best and cheapest way. In other words it means application of scientific tools, methods and trained personnel in order to increase the output.

It emphasises replacement of ‘rule of thumb’ i.e. personal judgment, by scientific selected methods and tools.

Three principles of scientific management are:

(i) Science, not rule of thumb.

(ii) Harmony, not discord.

(iii) Cooperation, not individualism.