Taylorism is a system that was designed in the late 19th century, not only to maximise managerial control, but to also expand the levels of efficiency throughout workplaces. With this being said, productivity levels increased and fair wage distribution was the main result. However, with other, more recent theories and systems, such as Maslow and Herzburg’s theories, these helped to focus on the satisfaction and motivation of the workers rather than the concern of managerial control and empowerment. Fredrick W. Taylor ended up developing 4 main principles to help increase the work efficiency and productivity in workplaces; these will be discussed later on. Other theories relating to this include, Fayol, Follett, Management Science Theory as well as Organisational-Environmental Theory. All theories listed have an influence on the way businesses work effectively and put their skills to action. This essay will highlight how Taylorism was designed to maximise managerial control and increase productivity, furthermore, showing how more recent theories were developed to focus on empowering employees and to extend the use of organisational resources.
Scientific Management Theory
Fredrick W. Taylor’s main intentions for his theory of Scientific Management was to effectively increase the amount of productivity and efficiency within an organisation. As Robbins and Coulter stated, ‘the use of scientific methods to define the “one best way” for a job to be done’. (Robbins, Coutler, n.d, pg. 29). Taylor introduced a ‘fair days wage’ as mentioned in Episode 143: Fredrick Winslow Taylor’s Scientific Management (2013) to be paid regardless for the amount of output each person produced. This wage was determined by the standard a worker should be pr...
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...the best output.
Reference
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The major change came through the work of Fredrick Winslow Taylor and his theory of scientific management system. It was not that Taylor was unique or completely new; only time and motion study could be put in that category. The trend was already moving towards systematic management such as formal management methods or by cost ...
The term “workaholism” appeared in the beginning of the 20th century after Frederick Taylor integrated new organization of work system. Taylor, famous businessman was born in 1856 in Philadelphia, and was known as “father of scientific management”. His new theory of work management has been known as “Taylorism”. The term “Taylorism” is seldom used in a positive way. For a short description, according to JoAnn Greco, the journalist of “The Journal of Business Strategy”, “Taylorism” is “a sort of ruthless and quasi-Victorian efficiency that melds man with machine, often to man’s disadvantage.” According Taylor’s theory of work organization the worker is nothing but a tool for gaining profit. (Greco)
As we can see from the case study, ryanair has pushed itself to success in its current period. Based on research so far in this essay, it seems that the whole reason behind Frederick Taylor’s theory is that he tends to aim for making the most of his employees, to work to their highest standards for a successful company. When we look at the Ryanair case study on (Management, D. Boddy pg 23) we can see that one of the key points is that the staff must turn an aircraft round between the flights in a matter of 25 minutes, which has a positive affect on increasing revenue. However this leaves the employees under pressure but this also tells us that the Ryanair organisation make the most out of their employees, just like Frederick Taylor’s theory. Getting these tasks complete by the employees is all in the manager’s responsibility, Ryanair regulate their staff so that the managers are held responsible for providing the strategies for the employees as mentioned in the case study on (Management, D. Boddy pg 23). Frederick Taylor’s scientific management theory has an influence on this as quoted
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The concept of scientific management is based on the idea that work could be studied to increase efficiency, and specialization. Economist Adam Smith changed the way the world looked at the economy and organization. In his essay, “Of the Division of Labour,” Smith emphasizes the importance of specialization, and how division of labor leads to specialization. He states that this would allow a worker to be more productive and efficient (Shafritz, Ott, & Jang, 2011, p. 41-45). Frederick Taylor introduced the principles of scientific management, which stated that management is a science, workers should be scientifically selected and trained scientifically, and both management and workers should work together.
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His influential theory enabled industry to move away from "rule of thumb" management and be more efficient and prosperous. The modern systems of manufacturing and management would not be the examples of efficiency that they are today, without his work. Frederick Taylor was instrumental in bringing industry out of the dark ages by beginning to revolutionize the way work was approached. Taylor was able to increase wages, productivity and reduce per piece costs at the same time. His work was eventually adopted in a wide array of applications. Taylor's ideas had a significant influence on the industrial life of all modernized countries. His work was an extension of human work and technology. His principles of scientific management were conceived to be free of value judgment.
Taylor contended that the success of these principles required "a complete mental revolution" on the part of management and labor. Rather than quarrel over profits, both sides should try to increase production; by so doing, he believed, profits would rise to such an extent that labor and management would no longer have to fight over them. In short, Taylor believed that management and labor had a common interest in increasing productivity.
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