Abstract:
Scientific management theory is a method of improving efficiency in the workforce. As its name implies, this management theory uses scientific methods to assess work processes. The scientific method consists of three steps: observation, experimentation, and analysis.
Scientific management has at its heart four core principles that also apply to organizations today. They include the following:
- Look at each job or task scientifically to determine the “one best way” to perform the job. This is a change from the previous “rule of thumb” method where workers devised their own ways to do the job.
- Hire the right workers for each job, and train them to work at maximum efficiency.
- Monitor worker performance, and provide instruction and training when needed.
- Divide the work between management and labor so that management can plan and train, and workers can execute the task efficiently.
Keywords
Scientific Management, Work-Study, Standardization of Tools and Equipments, Scientific Task Setting, Wage Rates, Scientific Selection and Training Functional Foremanship, Differential Piece-Rate Plan.
Learning Outcomes
After undergoing this article you will be able to understand the following
1. What's Scientific Management?
2. Why scientific management is necessary?
3. What are the techniques of Scientific Management ?
4. Briefly explain the techniques of scientific management.
5. Conclusions
6. FAQs
References
1. What's Scientific Management?
What Do You Mean By Scientific Management?
Scientific management is a management theory that analyzes work flows to improve economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. Scientific Management is another special sense of an approach to management in which it undertakes the responsibility for deciding the proper standards and all the methods of work which gives close supervision on the workers.In simpler words, Scientific Management is the art of knowing accurately ‘what is to be done’ and ‘how this will be done’. Under this approach, the scientific techniques are applied in the recruitment, at the time of selection, and in training the workers and are also used in tackling various industrial problems. Also, we will know about the man behind these techniques in our next section and will be introduced to his scientific techniques.FW TaylorF.W. Taylor led to the emergence of the concept of ‘Scientific Management’.
2. Why scientific management is necessary?
Scientific management theory seeks to improve an organization's efficiency by systematically improving the efficiency of task completion by utilizing scientific, engineering, and mathematical analysis. The goal is to reduce waste, increase the process and methods of production, and create a just distribution of goods.
3. What are the techniques of Scientific Management ?
Taylor has led down various techniques of Scientific Management which are as follows:
1. Work-Study
2. Standardization of Tools and Equipments
3. Scientific Task Setting
4. Scientific Setting of Wage Rates
5. Scientific Selection and Training
6. Functional Foremanship
7. Differential Piece-Rate Plan.
4. Briefly explain the techniques of scientific management.
The scientific management as Taylor has mentioned are on
1. Work-Study
Work-study helps the company to increase its productivity. Work-study is a combination of tools and techniques ( method study and work measurement ) used to analyze that how work will be executed. It ensures that all the factors of production utilize in an effective manner. Work-study deals with the human being and their handling of other factors of production of the company.
Work-study involves analyzing and evaluating the best method of doing the work and then develop a standard for performing the job. It helps in diving the work into small parts and then tries to complete the work in the shortest time with maintaining the quality of the product. It will increase the productivity of the company.
Objective of Work Study
1.) To analyze the present method of doing a job for developing a new and better way.
2.) Optimum utilization of resources.
3.) Establishing a standard time for performing the job.
4.) To increase productivity by ensuring the best possible use of human, machine, and material resources.
5.) To achieve the best quality product and service at the minimum possible cost.
6.) Identification of wasteful activity.
7.) Creating coordination among different factors of production.
8.) Smooth production process and enhance job satisfaction of the workforce.
2. Standardization of Tools and Equipments
Standardisation of tools and equipment refers to providing the standard tools and equipment for production and maintaining standard working conditions and environment at the place of work.
Standardization techniques help to reduce the spoilage and wastage of the materials, improve the quality of work and thereby reduce the cost of production.
With the standardization of equipment, there is less diversity of devices and the technical team has to maintain fewer product types. This scenario requires far less effort to get to know the devices and reduces the complexity of keeping the plant operating.
3. Scientific Task Setting
Scientific Task-Setting: determines the task for every worker through careful scientific investigation. The standard task is the quality of work which an average worker working under ideal standardised conditions will be able to do in a day. This was called 'a fair day's work.
4. Scientific Setting of Wage Rates
Under this system, higher rates are offered to those workers who produce more than the standard quantity. Taylor was of the view that the efficient workers should be paid, from 30% to 100% more than the average workers.
5. Scientific Selection and Training
If we do not have right workers on the right job, the efficiency of the organisation will be reduced. Therefore, every organisation should follow a scientific system of selection. The selected workers should be trained to avoid wrong methods of work.
6. Functional Foremanship
The term, functional foremanship means separation of planning from execution. Each worker is supervised by various specialists. For this, Taylor suggested that under the factory manager, there is a planning in charge and a production so as to increase efficiency.
7. Differential Piece-Rate Plan.
Differential Piece Rate System was introduced by Taylor, the father of scientific management. The underlying principle of this system is to penalize a slow worker by paying him a low piece rate for low production and to reward an efficient worker by giving him a higher piece rate for a higher production.
5. Conclusions
Thus, the works of Taylor and those following the scientific management school led the standardisation of work and put the concepts of productivity and efficiency into practice. Labour productivity, no doubt, increased but scientific management also helped to create boredom, dissatisfaction and alienation of the workers.
6. FAQs
Critiques of Taylorism
Taylor's Scientific Management Theory promotes the idea that there is "one right way" to do something. These promote individual responsibility, and seek to push decision making through all levels of the organization.
The idea here is that workers are given as much autonomy as practically possible, so that they can use the most appropriate approaches for the situation at hand. (Reflect here on your own experience – are you happier and more motivated when you're following tightly controlled procedures, or when you're working using your own judgment?) What's more, front line workers need to show this sort of flexibility in a rapidly-changing environment. Rigid, rules-driven organizations really struggle to adapt in these situations.
Teamwork is another area where pure Taylorism is in opposition to current practice. Essentially, Taylorism breaks tasks down into tiny steps, and focuses on how each person can do his or her specific series of steps best. Modern methodologies prefer to examine work systems more holistically in order to evaluate efficiency and maximize productivity. The extreme specialization that Taylorism promotes is contrary to modern ideals of how to provide a motivating and satisfying workplace.
Where Taylorism separates manual from mental work, modern productivity enhancement practices seek to incorporate worker's ideas, experience and knowledge into best practice. Scientific management in its pure form focuses too much on the mechanics, and fails to value the people side of work, whereby motivation and workplace satisfaction are key elements in an efficient and productive organization.
References
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