Frederick Taylor

  Widely known as F. W. Taylor, was an American mechanical engineer who sought to

improve industrial efficiency. He is regarded as the father of scientific management and was one of the
first management consultants. He developed the Theory of Scientific Management, the central premise
of the theory is that management and labor both want to increase productivity and that is possible to find
“one best practice” through which the worker is able to get the most work done for the least energy spent.
The idea was that management would train workers in this “one best practice” and that it would replace
worker’s indiscretion.

The Basic Components of this theory are:

1. Analysis and synthesis of the elements of the operation through time and motion studies.
2. Scientific selection of workers;
3. Training of workers;
4. Proper tools and equipment ; and
5. Proper incentives and payment

Benefits of Scientific Management:

1. Replacement of traditional rule of thumb method by scientific techniques.

2. Proper selection and training of workers.
3. Incentive wages to the workers for higher production.
4. Elimination of wastes and rationalization of system of control.
5. Standardization of tools, equipment, materials and work methods.
6. Detailed instructions and constant guidance of the workers.
7. Establishment of harmonious relationship between the workers.
8. Better utilization of various resources.
9. Satisfaction of the needs of the customers by providing higher quality products at lower prices.

Disadvantages:
1. Can be easily abused to exploit human beings.
2. Not useful to groups or teams.
3. Leaves no room for individual preference and incentives.
4. Overemphasis on measuring. No attention of soft factors.
5. Mechanistic. Treating human as machine.