Republic of the Philippines

ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Tagudin Campus
Tagudin, Ilocos Sur

tors: Michael J. Jimeno

Nila Mae A. Calpo
Kristel Fae D. Asuncion
Scientific Management by Frederick Winslow Taylor
t: Adminitrative Theory
or: Dr. Dominador A. Ayson Jr.
 Scientific Management
by Frederick Winslow Taylor
 Overview of the Report
I-Introduction
- Meaning of Scientific Management
- Frederick W. Taylor
II - Body
- Analysis and Experimentation of Taylor
- Taylor's 4 Principles of Scientific Management
- Essence of Scientific Management
- Significance in Scientific Management
- Principles and Techniques of Scientific
Management
- Limitations/Criticisms of Scientific Management
III - Conclusion
Scientific Management
The process of approaching
various aspects of organizations
in a scientific manner using
scientific tools such as research,
management, and analysis.
Scientific Management
The systematic study of
relationships between people and
tasks for the purpose of
redesigning the work process to
increase efficiency.
Scientific management methods
called for optimizing the way that
tasks were performed and
simplifying the jobs enough so
that workers could be trained to
perform their specialized
sequence of motions in the
"best" way.
Frederick Winslow Taylor
"Father" of the
Scientific Management
Efficiency Movement,
Industrial Engineering
Nationality : American
Occupation : Mechanical Engineer,
Efficiency expert,
Management consultant
 In 1911, Frederick Winslow
Taylor published his work,
The Principles of Scientific
Management, in which he
described how the application
of the scientific method to the
management of workers
greatly could improve
productivity.
Taylor became interested in
improving worker productivity
early in his career when he
observed gross inefficiencies
during his contact with steel
workers.
Soldiering
Working in the steel industry,
Taylor had observed the
phenomenon of workers‘
purposely operating well
below their capacity, that is,
soldiering.
 Three causes of SOLDIERING
1. If workers became more
productive, fewer of them would
be needed and jobs would be
eliminated.
2. Non-incentive wage systems
encourage low productivity.
3. Workers waste much of their
effort by relying on rule-of-
thumb methods rather than on
optimal work methods.
Time Studies
To scientifically determine the
optimal way to perform a job, Taylor
performed experiments that he
called time studies, (also known as
time and motion studies). These
studies were characterized by the
use of a stopwatch to time a
worker's sequence of motions, with
the goal of determining the one best
way to perform a job.
Examples of some of the time-
and-motion studies that were
performed by Taylor and others
in the era of scientific
management.
- Pig Iron
- The Science of Shoveling
Taylor's 4 Principles of Scientific
Management

1. Replace rule-of-thumb work

methods with methods based on
a scientific study of the tasks.

2. Scientifically select, train, and

develop each worker rather than
passively leaving them to train
themselves.
3. Cooperate with the workers to
ensure that the scientifically
developed methods are being
followed.
4. Divide work nearly equally
between managers and workers,
so that the managers apply
scientific management principles
to planning the work and the
workers actually perform the
tasks.
 Essence of Scientific
Management
1. Taylor advocated that principles
of scientific management could
succeed only if there was ‘complete
mental revolution’. Rather than
management and workers having
conflict with each other over sharing
of organisational profits, mental
revolution aimed at fusion of interest
of labour and management.
2. It calls for a complete change in
the outlook of management and
workers towards each other. Both
management and workers should
have complete understanding of the
quantity and quality of work to be
achieved within a given time period
and try to achieve that target.
 Significance of Scientific
Management
1. Better management
This theory gained wide
popularity in the managerial world, I
both business and non-business
organizations. It introduced better
management through scientific
methods such as work study,
incentive plans, rest hours etc.
2. Optimum allocation of resources
Scientific management
eliminates wasteful time and motions
in performing various activities. It
introduced time and motion studies
to increase contribution to
organizational goals. He discovered
workers’ true capacity and provided
a fair day’s work for a fair day’s
wage.
3. Scientific approach
It emphasized on scientific selection,
education and development of workers so
that problem-solving is not based on
random decision making. It advocated
selection on the basis of job
requirements. Selection of the right
person for the right job is the basis of this
theory. Training methods are scientifically
designed to develop workers to perform
the jobs are best suited for.
4. Work specialization
He identified planning and
execution as two distinct jobs. People
responsible for planning and
execution belong to separate
departments.

5. Mental revolution
He advocated mental revolution
on the part of both employers and
employees.
6. Productivity
Better management and
optimum allocation of resources
result in high productivity, high
profits and high wages. It thus,
improves economic performance of
both management and workers.
7. Harmonious relationship
Since management and workers
cooperate with each other,
relationship between the two tends
to be harmonious. It reduces
interpersonal conflicts and promotes
unity of action.
APRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT

1. Science not the rule of thumb

- Taylor pioneered the
introduction of the method of
scientific inquiry into management
practice.
- He suggested that by following
the rules of thumb, all would not be
equally effective.
2. Harmony, not Discord
- Managers served as a link
between the owners and the
workers.
- There should be complete
harmony between the management
and workers. Both should realized
that both are important.
3. Cooperation, not Individualism
- Competition must be replaced
by cooperation. Both should realized
that they need each other.
4. Development of each and
every person to his or her
greatest efficient and prosperity
- Industrial efficiency depends on
individual competencies.
- Worker training is essential also
to develop workers.
5. Functional Foremanship
- Taylor advocated separation
of planning and execution
function.
- Under factory manager
there was a planning in-charge
and production in-change.
6. Standardization and
simplification on work
- Taylor was an ardent supporter
of standardization. According to him
scientific method should be used to
analyze methods of production
prevalent under the rule of thumb.
Simplification aims unnecessary
diversification of products which
results in saving of costs.
7. Method Study
- objective of this method is to
find out the best way to do the job.
8. Motion Study
- refers to the study of
movements like lifting, putting
objects which are undertaken while
doing a job. Unnecessary movements
are sought to be eliminated so that it
takes less time to complete the job
efficiently.
9. Time Study
- It determines the standard
time taken to perform a well-
defined job.
10. Fatigue Study
- Rest is essential to regain
the productivity of workers.
11. Differential Piece System
- Taylor was a strong advocator
of piece wage system. He wanted to
differentiate between efficient and
inefficient workers.
- There must be a compensation
system that differentiates those who
are able to accomplish the day’s
work better.
 Limitation of Scientific
Management
1. Over-emphasis on economic needs
Taylor focused only on physical
and economic needs of workers. He
overlooked the importance of social
and ego needs that affect their
behavior. Taylor viewed workers as
mere factors of production and not
human beings with social and
emotional ties.
2. Loss of jobs
His theory was opposed by workers
and labour unions as they felt that
scientific ways would increase production
but reduce the work force. Workers
believed that if they adopted Taylor’s work
methods, they would lose their jobs.

3. Efficient methods of production will

lead to same work being performed by
less number of workers.
The possible threat of lay offs made
workers and union suspicious about
adopting scientific methods of production.
4. Monotomy
Focus on scientific ways of
performing the job
(standardization), task planning etc.
can make work monotonous as
workers work along pre-defined
lines of action and lose interest in
jobs. The work become so
routinized that workers do not use
their initiative and creativity in
performing better.
5. Discrimination amongst
workers
Differentiate wage rate
system distinguishes between
efficient and inefficient workers
on the basis of standard output.
It leads to conflicts
6. Unsuitable for small firms
Scientific management theory
is unsuitable for small firms
because of their inability to
invest huge funds in developing
scientific methods of production.
Small firms are, thus, deprived of
the benefits of scientific
management.