Introduce scientific management. Explain the major contributions made by F.W. Taylor.

 Scientific Management Theory

Concept of Scientific Management Fredrick Winslow Taylor (1856 to 1915) is known as the father of scientific management. He started his career as an operator and reached to the position of chief engineer. He conducted various experiments during his work life which forms the basis of scientific management.

According to Taylor, scientific management is an art of knowing exactly what you want your men to do and seeing that they do it in the best and cheapest way. Hence scientific management is a thoughtful, organized and dual approach toward the job of management against hit or miss or rule of thumb.

The following are some of the remarkable definitions of scientific management:

Frederick Winslow Taylor"Scientific management means knowing exactly what you want men to do and seeing that they do it in the best and the cheapest way."

 George Black"Scientific management is that kind of management, which conducts a business or affairs by standards established by facts, or truths gained through systematic observation, experiment or reasoning."

Peter F. Drucker"The cost of scientific management is the organized study of work, the analysis of work into its simplest elements and the systematic management of the workers' performance of each element.

Principles of Scientific Management Theory 

The major contributions made by F.W. Taylor. /The following are the principles of scientific management theory propounded by Taylor. 

1. Development of science for each part of an individual's (Replacement of rule of thumb): This principle suggests that w assigned to any employee should be observed, analyzed with respect to each and every element and part and time involved in it. This means of methods of inquiry, investigation, data collection, analysis framing of rules by replacing the old rule of thumb. In other words decisions should be made on the basis of facts and by the application of scientific decisions. It leads to improvement of the economic efficiency of the organization, especially labor productivity.

2. Scientific selection, training and development of workers: According to scientific management, workers should be selected scientifically wi a designed procedure. The physical, mental and other requirements for each and every job should be specified. Workers should be trained to them for the job. They should also be provided opportunities for the development of working capabilities.

3. Co-operation between management and workers (Harmony, discord): Scientific management advocates co-operation individualism. Taylor believed that the goals of the organization can be achieved efficiently through cooperation. Hence, there should not be a conflict between managers and workers. For this, the interest of employers and employees should be harmonized.

4. Division of work and responsibility: Scientific management advocates division of responsibility between managers and workers. This allows managers to apply the scientific management principles to planning t works and the workers actually perform them. It urges the planning function of an organization should be separated from the execution

5. Mental revolution: Mental revolution is a change in thinking both not part of management and workers towards their mutual relation and work effort. For this, management should create suitable work conditions and solve all problems scientifically. The workers should provide handsome remuneration to boost up their morale. It creates a sense of belongingness among workers and they become disciplined loyal and sincere in discharging tasks assigned to them. Likewise, workers should also perform their jobs with utmost attention, devotion, and carefulness.

6. Maximum output in place of restricted output: The scientific management advocates maximum prosperity for both the employer employees. It is possible when there is the opportunity for each worker to attain his/her highest efficiency. It results in maximum output and optimum utilization of resources which finally brings higher profits f the employer and better wages for the workers. Hence, there should maximum output in place of restricted output.