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The Principles Of Scientific Management
The basis of modern organization and decision theory, this influential essay has motivated administrators and students of managerial technique for more than 80 years. The author discusses eliminating inefficiency through a system based on principles applicable to individual and collective activities. A ground-breaking, and still-inspiring work.
Kindle Edition
Published
(first published 1911)
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This book proved much more interesting than I thought it was going to be. There were bits that made my skin crawl – all the stuff about ‘are you a high priced man?’ which managed to be patronising and insulting by explaining how incredibly stupid he felt working people are. But this book was interesting in ways that I hadn’t really expected it to be. Not least, because of the remarkable naivety of the author in places.
The book is concerned with addressing a number of fallacies about work. One of...more
The book is concerned with addressing a number of fallacies about work. One of...more
Taylor was a slightly excentric man but who mananged to turn his interest in achieving the one best way to do something to good use. In this short essay he uses the examples including moving pig-iron and laying bricks to demonstrate how study and analysis can be used to increase measurable productivity. The implications in terms of improved labour efficiency were considerable and lead to the development of time and motions studies and the belief that productivity could be enhanced through contro...more
A classic text from early 20th century detailing a new approach to management. Instead of leaving workers to determine the best way to go about their work and incenting them on thier output, have experts in time and motion study their work, optimise it and introduce those optimisations. This is done in consultation with the workers and must result in higher wages for them. He presents a strong case as to why in general workers are incented to work less, not more, many of which I would think stil...more
This is a management classic that is actually a short booklet. It is Taylor's key statement of his approach to developing standards for work performance on the basis of study and observation as opposed to a reliance on standard "rules of thumb". I originally read this in grad school, along with the many critiques of it that have come down the line. I reread in connection with Kanigel's bio of Taylor - "The One Best Way". It is a necessary read if you study businesses but the style need work and...more
Free on Amazon Kindle.
This book is an interesting look at the idea of task management and how to implement it in a manufacturing setting. Fairly interesting read, especially since Taylor clearly states that a laborer who is moving iron all day is not smart enough to figure out a more efficient method of doing the work. When you read about the intricate time and motion studies performed by Taylor and the other consultants, his point makes sense.
This book is an interesting look at the idea of task management and how to implement it in a manufacturing setting. Fairly interesting read, especially since Taylor clearly states that a laborer who is moving iron all day is not smart enough to figure out a more efficient method of doing the work. When you read about the intricate time and motion studies performed by Taylor and the other consultants, his point makes sense.
A quite insightful and practical way of thinking. This book discusses the concept of applying science to labor's various working activities; it even involves some formulas in this regard. The book, by extrapolating its basic principles, aims to prognosticate individuals and societies behaviors by formulating mathematical equations. The book can possibly offend some people due to its rigorous approach and its inconsideration for people for the sake of efficiency. Still, I think this book is somet...more
A surprisingly eye-opening read. Not so straightforward in putting down empirical control as some of the current opinions might make you think. Obviously dated and in many cases, working with false premises. Still, better to experience it yourself than to hear it decried from other sources!
READ APR 2009
A must read for any student of organizational management. Effectively describes the relationship between organizational design, development and ultimately shareholder value.
A must read for any student of organizational management. Effectively describes the relationship between organizational design, development and ultimately shareholder value.
The way he explains his theory by taking into account very mundane job is amazing. While reading you will share his zeal to change the way work is done.
I first heard of Taylor in Dr. James Smith's book The Good and Beautiful Good (highly recommended). In the final chapter Smith describes Taylor's conclusions about management and the system Taylor sets up as a false narrative resulting in our personal and societal slavery to the clock and untiring machine-like productivity. Many of Smith's observations are regarding the cultural consequencs of Taylor's work. I suspect that there is much useful material in Taylor's triste (it certainly had endure...more
A must read for any Marxist. Chapter and verse on man - the economic unit. Very influential on Ford and Fordism.
Taylor was an obsessive compulsive personality who used his privilege against the working class through what he called "scientific management." This was the science of speed-ups and labor efficiency for capital's sake with no regard for the workers. There is a part of the book where a working man, someone he used to work the lathes with before he became a manager and asked what he would do in the workers position; his answer was to fight every innovation he was enforcing on the workers. Brutal....more
Sep 20, 2008
Greg
rated it
3 of 5 stars
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review of another edition
Shelves:
professional-development
As a glimpse of an important part of organizational history, this is an linchpin book to read. As a practical matter of utility in modern organizational life, it is less so. Indeed, many of the practices advocated by Taylor would be inadvisable or even illegal in today's world. Nonetheless, his work, and that of some of his contemporaries, formed a strong foundation for later innovations and practices in industrial psychology and organizational behavior.
This book is recommended by Dale Carnegie
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“In the past the man has been first; in the future the system must be first.”
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