What you’ll learn to do: explain the theory of scientific management

Just over one hundred years ago Frederick Taylor published Principles of Scientific Management, a work that forever changed the way the organizations view their workers and their organization. At the time of Taylor’s publication, managers believed that workers were lazy and worked slowly and inefficiently in order to protect their jobs. Taylor identified a revolutionary solution:

The remedy for this inefficiency lies in systematic management, rather than in searching for some unusual or extraordinary man.

You might think that a century-old theory wouldn’t have any application in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world. You’d be wrong, though! In fact much of what you’ve already learned in this course is based on Taylor’s work, and plenty of what you’ll experience in the workplace will be indebted to him, too. If you recognize any of the following, you have already seen his principles of scientific management in action: organizational charts, performance evaluations, quality measurements and metrics, and sales and/or production goals.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

The learning activities for this section include:

• Reading: Introduction to Motivational Theory
• Reading: Fredrick Taylor’s Scientific Management
• Self Check: Scientific Management

Take time to review and reflect on this activity in order to improve your performance on the assessment for this section.