Frederick Taylors Scientific Management - Essay Example

Frederick Taylor’s Scientific Management In the of history of management, the trend had been observed to vary in terms of the prioritization of the craftsmanship and the efficiency of production. With regards to the said issue, Frederick Taylor is one of the significant personalities due to the fact that he is the proponent of the Scientific Management or the application of scientific methods in the field of work and management (Darmody 1). The Scientific Management Defined The scientific management can is based on Taylor’s view that the works that are needed to be accomplished in different industries are needed to be improved. The people are needed to work smarter instead of harder. Basically, his views are rooted in efficiency. Prior to his proposition, labor then can be considered as a specialized process for every worker. This includes the view of craftsmanship wherein only the particular worker has the idea regarding his work. The said process is viewed by Taylor as highly inefficient since the job done is completely dependent on the time set by the workers. This pushed Taylor propose the quantification of the work that are needed to be done. For that matter, he started to give possible ways and standards to be able to determine the rate of work needed and continuously improve the process (Darmody 1; Jones and George 20). To be able to achieve the efficiency that is needed, an able manager who can oversee the activities and can set the level of work that should be accomplished is another important factor of the scientific management. The mindset of the workers based on Taylor’s principles is needed to revolve around the factors such as efficiency and productivity. He believed that increased in production or the amount of work done is the most important aim in the industries. Basically during his time wherein there is a recognized need for increase in production, the idea he presented is highly applicable. For that matter, the scientific management is the first method and philosophy in management that had been known and applied internationally. It can be related to the idea of mass production by Ford which is also rooted for increased efficiency (Crainer 44). According to Taylor, scientific management is composed of 75 percent science and 25 percent common sense, thus, the method used in working is the most important component. For that matter he prioritizes the motivation of the workers through incurring the view that in every task that is undertaken, the search for the most efficient method is one of the main goals (Crainer 44). The fundamental components then of scientific management are the ruling of science, harmony, maximum output and workers that are geared towards the greatest efficiency and prosperity (Darmody 2). The principles of Taylorism then are composed of the three rules. One is the simplification of the tasks assigned to every worker. This is through the separation of the skills of workers. If a worker is knowledgeable in different tasks, he is assigned in the task he is beast suited for. Another is the reassignment of the task of conceptualization from the shop floor, which is the old method to the management. This is then connected to the third guiding rule which is the centralization of the productive knowledge in the management thus responsibilities include decision making (Darmody 2). The Flaws of Scientific Management Although the scientific management of Taylor can be noted for being organized in terms of efficiency, there are different flaws that can be noted. One of the flaws of the Taylor’s scientific management is the fact that it is geared to continuous increase in production. For that matter, other issues that are needed to be given attention by the industries can be ignored. It can be considered as blind production that is neglecting other issues and essential factors that are also fundamental to the processes in the industry. This can be exhibited in the fact that due to the aim for increased production, ethics can be disregarded. This is one of the issues that limit the said method since most of the organizations in the industries are giving importance to the combination of profitability and ethics. In addition, it cannot be solely applied in the present era since the need for corporate social responsibility is a must (Crainer 45; Jones and George). It can be viewed that the scientific management by Taylor is a principle that is made to apply in a controlled environment wherein all other factors that are included in real market and organizational arena are ignored. His views can be compared to a perfect machinery that is applied in the production site that is aimed only to produce more and more product while ignoring the other factors that can affect performance such as wear and tear, new technologies and even the production resources that are needed to be able to achieve the end result (Crainer 45; Jones and George). Another issue is the view that efficiency can improve the quality of work that a worker can perform which cannot be completely true. One reason is compared to the craftsmen who perform work on the basis of their dedication and the quality needed for the end product the workers in the view of scientific management are not proposed to have opinions regarding the product that they are making. One reason is that they only accomplish a part of the products that are sold in the market. Another is due to the monotony of work the quality of the work done can deteriorate. In addition, due to the centralization of the decision-making process, the workers are less pro-active regarding the methods that can be applied to be able to improve the work they are doing or the products they are making (Crainer 45; Jones and George). The issues presented have repercussions in the end results in the industry. With the sole view on profitability, detrimental results can be achieved of the sole rules of scientific management by Taylor is applied to manage an organization and company in the present era. Works Cited: Crainer, Stuart. “One hundred years of management.” Business Strategy Review 14.2 (2003): 41-49. Darmody, Peter B. “Henry L. Gantt and Frederick Taylor: The Pioneers of Scientific Management.” AACE International Transactions PS.15 (2007): 1-4. Jones, Gareth R. and Jennifer M. George. The Essentials of Contemporary Management. McGraw-Hill Companies, 2007. Read More