MG315

ASSIGNMENT: 1
ESSAY
2023

Name: Gyatri Devi

Student ID: S11186376
Campus: Laucala
In today’s world, every management aims to achieve mass production while practicing the
cheapest and the best method to perform a task while controlling the labor force. Thus this essay
highlights the ideas of scientific management theory and how it’s been criticized by a number of
authors and perspectives. Well, in the early 1900,s Taylor founded some principles that aimed
the companies in increasing ways to improve productivity levels as well as reducing the labor
cost which affects both employers and employees as an end result. Also, it was one of the earliest
attempts to apply science to the engineering of processes in management. On other hand,
management performs scientific management theory which is merely capitalist tools designed to
dominate and stress the employees, simultaneously management tries to maximize more output
from workers.
Therefore, there are four types of principles that are mentioned by Taylor under Scientific
Management. The major reason for inventing these principles is to create a working environment
more production efficient with the practice of division of tasks. The principles are as follows:
Firstly, the replacement of the rule-of-thumb work methods instead the organization can perform
the scientific study of the tasks based on the efficient ways to carry out a specific task. Basically,
the thumbs-up rule is a personal judgment by the top-level management system without
consulting the employees’ perspective regarding that particular idea. The reason why Taylor
focuses on replacing the above rule is that it lacks innovation and mainly advancement
opportunities. On the other hand, methods developed through the scientific analysis principle
state that work performed by a worker should be monitored and evaluated in terms of every
component, part, time frame involved, and the involvement of both the employer and the
employee in making productive decisions for the firm (Ward, 2021). For instance, businesses in
New Zealand implement the concepts of scientific management at McDonald’s there is a shred
of evidence that shows both employers and employees search for opportunities and boost the
satisfaction level of their customers (McDonald, 2020). Well for Fiji, KPMG is the best example
to discover under a scientific management system because they check on their labor efficiency
online (zoom sessions and surveys)
Secondly, scientifically selecting, training, and developing each employee rather than passively
leaving them to train themselves. According to Taylor, in order to achieve maximum efficiency,
training, and development are "the most important goal of both the labor and the management"
and "close, intimate, personal cooperation between the management and the labor is of the
essence of task management." In order to achieve perform proper scientific development among
employees in relation to their level of efficient productivity. The organizations must collect
objective data about the work field, practice work-based experiments, and make decisions based
on the results of experiments (StudySmarter, 2021). For example, in Australia, the scientifically
selecting, training, and development of each employee is carried out with a particular
organization that focuses on employee productivity such as the Australian government staffing,
development, and training site “Business” (Government, 2022). Whereas, in Fiji majority of the
organizations practice their training and development, and selection within the workplace
through after-hours workshops, tests, and IT skill checks such as KPMG, Legal Aid, and
supermarkets (Newworld).
Thirdly, cooperating with the employees of the organization. Generally, to give each employee
specific directions, watch over them as they complete their individual tasks, and resolve issues of
common concern. Here, Taylor points out that the channel of communication should be crystal
clear, between the authorities and the workers of the firm such as each other’s needs, and
interests (Grossman, 2022). For example, the law firms in India, Luthra, and Luthra Law Offices,
in general, Instruct, and motivate their law worker not to give up on the cases the firm is dealing
with, and picking up the point needed for the case to be handled with proper supervision such as
the confidential documentation by the employer so that job satisfaction is not affected (India,
2023). In Fiji, the Flour mill of Fiji manual guidance and safety assistance provided by the firm
to aim for a better working environment which will give a direct impact on the production level
of FMF.
Fourthly, the task distribution is equal between managers and workers, so the managers apply
scientific management principles to planning the task and the worker performs the task.
Generally, it means giving employees specific tasks which they are capable of doing and also
enables them to specialize and complete their work in time and efficiently. For example, in car
manufacturing firms, garments, and hospitals such as in Japan Toray Industries (garment factory)
describes best the equal distribution and responsibility principle, because the factory assigns a
specialized and suitable worker for the job. The management of the garment divides tasks based
on their capability as the sawing department, buttoning, and cloth design printing with different
skills and abilities (Brothers, 2020). On the same note, the pacific island also practices dividing
and distribution both in private and public sectors. In Fiji, EFL, water authorities, construction
companies, and banks also practice the same principle. In banks with different departments such
as deposits, loans, inquiries, or helpdesks here work is distributed according to the qualifications
and experience the employees have.
However, there are some criticisms perspectives of authors based on the management theory of
employment relations. Well, mainly there are two authors (Burawoy and Braverman) who
criticized Taylor’s scientific management theory. Firstly, Burawoy disapproved of Taylor's
philosophy which was centered on making employees work as hard as in order to evaluate the
efficiency and maximize productivity under a fully controlled and monitored environment.
Burawoy was totally against the fact that the employee was dominated and controlled by the
management which resulted in “harsh” exploitation where employees attempted to resist the
management (Davies, 2005). For example, in the USA there are some most hated firms based on
the toxic work environment, lax security, or unethical business practices such as Facebook, Uber,
and Vice- medic practicing systemic sexual harassment and giving illegal assignments to
employees like fake ads and news designs (Stebbins, 2018). As for pacific islands, in airport
industries in Fiji, the employees are closely observed and monitored for their actions and have
little say regardless of their position (Juneja, 2015). Mainly the instructions are issued by the
management such as the employee’s Schedule and staffing deadlines assignments.
Secondly, Harry Braverman also criticized the Scientific management theory because based on
his experience and research (Marxist theory) he discovered that refocusing at the workplace on
issues such as the apparent decline of skilled employees and managerial control of employees.
He believed that scientific management purely focuses too much on the mechanics, and fails to
value the people side of work. For example, In Europe, early this year there was a strike by the
health department employees (nurses) in relation to their “working conditions, pay issues, and
Gaps in health and care staffing across” such as the aging workforce of doctors and overruling
the managerial policies under SM theory (Taylor, 2023). In Fiji, industries like Fiji Forest
Timber Utilization focuses on machinery (technologies) than operators (employees). Basically,
they focus on their productivity gains from their contracts and what needs to be done while
completing the task. Less concern is shown towards the heavy machinery operators in relation to
their technical skills.
On the contrary, it, therefore, is vivid that the majority of organizations opt to practice the four
principles of SM. They, utilize the concepts that are relevant to them only instead of employee
interaction in their decision-making for maximizing the output efficiently. This trend may be
detrimental after some time affecting productivity with the loss of trade professionals. In
addition, companies find that criticisms of SM are very well-adaptive in their decision processes.
On the whole, if owners seek the views of their employees then the work ethics will be better and
workers will have a conducive environment to perform their best to maximize production.
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