Taylor’s Contribution to Scientific Management
Taylor established that management is a discrete art with principles and methods, which can be studied scientifically, and used to solve factory problems. He showed how analysis and organization of work, together with the correct methods and skill in performing the task, could bring significant returns for employers and employees. Taylor was the first management thinker to introduce and stress these five postulates of management: research, standards, planning, control, and mutual collaboration between labor and management. The mentioned five principles form the crux of every successful management.
His scientific efforts have become the core of productivity approach management and consequent accomplishment of reduced costs and increased production. It even spread to Germany, England, France, USSR, and other European countries. Scientific management, in the sense of a tested work method, applies to the government also. Public administration is concerned with the most efficient management of men and materials to accomplish the statute’s purpose.
The essence of Taylor’s scientific theory was that the speed, cost, and quality of goods and services were dependent variables. The adjustment of independent variables could maximize it. These variables are a division of labor, method of supervision, financial incentives, the flow of material, and physical methods or conditions, which are still valid to a great extent.
Advantages of Scientific Management
- Advantages of Scientific Management Scientific selection and training of employees leads to a better workforce which ensures an increase in efficiency.
- The harmonious relationship between the workers and the management.
- Opportunity for scientific training and development to increase skills, knowledge, and competency.
- Application of scientific methods and techniques in better working conditions to reduce fatigue.
- Higher wages to the workers for higher productivity.
Disadvantages of Scientific Management
- It is based on one best way and is more applicable for simple organizations than today’s dynamic and complex organizations.
- It focuses on individual performance than group efforts and divides the workers into efficient and inefficient categories.
- It focuses on specialization and job repetition to increase productivity, reducing innovation and creativity and promoting monotony.
- It neglects the human factor because it motivates workers to work for monetary benefits rather than human resource development and resources.
- There is no scope for employees’ creativity because they are developed by the manager, who promotes frustration.