{"id":490,"date":"2019-07-29T17:15:21","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T17:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=490"},"modified":"2026-02-24T17:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T17:59:49","slug":"scientific-management-theories","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/chapter\/scientific-management-theories\/","title":{"raw":"Scientific Management Theories","rendered":"Scientific Management Theories"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Discuss classical scientific management theories<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe foundation for modern human resource management was established in the early 1900s, with the emergence of scientific management principles. Influential classical scientific management theorists include Dr. Frederick Taylor as well as Frank Gilbreth and his wife, Dr. Lillian Gilbreth. The contributions of two additional thought leaders of the classical period, administrative theorist Henri Fayol and humanist Mary Parker Follett, will be discussed in subsequent sections.\r\n\r\nConsidered the \u201cfather of scientific management,\u201d Dr. Taylor published his principles, also referred to as \u201cTaylorism,\u201d in a paper titled \u201cThe Principles of Scientific Management\u201d in 1911.[footnote]Taylor, Frederick. \"The Principles of Scientific Management.\" New York and London: Harper &amp; Brothers Publishers. 1911.[\/footnote] In his introduction, Taylor observes that:\r\n<blockquote>The search for better, for more competent men...was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply. What we are all looking for, however, is the ready-made, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realize that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom some one else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.<\/blockquote>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_575\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"250\"]<img class=\"wp-image-575\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1972\/2017\/07\/21222440\/401px-Frederick_Winslow_Taylor_crop-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"A headshot of Frederick Winslow Taylor\" width=\"250\" height=\"74\" \/> Figure 1. Frederick Winslow Taylor[\/caption]\r\n\r\nTaylor\u2019s argument was that the remedy to inefficiency was systematic management, rather than the search for an extraordinary human resource. Specifically, he sought to prove that \u201cthe best management is a true science,\u201d and \u201cto show that the fundamental principles of scientific management are applicable to human activities.\u201d And, ultimately, that the correct application of these principles can yield exceptional improvements in efficiency.\r\n\r\nIn contrast to the labor abuses and hostility common in America\u2019s early industrial age, Taylor believed that the purpose of management was to maximize both employer and employee prosperity. In terms of the individual employee, maximum prosperity means not only maximizing one\u2019s wage but developing each man to his state of maximum efficiency. A mechanical engineer by training, Taylor designed a number of time and motion studies to determine the one best way to complete a specific task. Taylor distilled his research into four principles of scientific management:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apply the scientific method to analyze work and determine the most efficient way to perform every task.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Match workers to jobs based on their capability and motivation and train them to work at maximum efficiency.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide instruction and supervision to ensure that the \u201cbest\u201d method is being used to complete each task.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divide work between managers and workers, with managers focusing on planning and training and workers focusing on production.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_576\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"250\"]<img class=\"wp-image-576\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1972\/2017\/07\/21223556\/512px-Lillian_Moller_Gilbreth-245x300.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Lillian Gilbreth\" width=\"250\" height=\"306\" \/> Figure 2. Lillian Gilbreth[\/caption]\r\n\r\nDr. Lillian Gilbreth and her husband Frank were also pioneers in the field of scientific management. Like Taylor, the Gilbreth\u2019s applied their engineering skills to identifying \u201cthe one best way\u201d to perform a task. In addition to time and motion studies, the couple used film to identify opportunities to improve work processes. In his lifetime, Frank Gilbreth, the \u201cfather of motion study,\u201d made over 250,000 feet of 35mm of motion picture films. Frank\u2019s major contribution was to categorize human work as a number of individual motions, termed \u201cTherbligs,\u201d and then optimize these motions to improve efficiency\u2014a process he applied to operations ranging from bricklaying to surgery.[footnote]\"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlean.com\/taylor-gilbreth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Tale of Taylor and Gilbreth.<\/a>\" All About Lean. November 10, 2013. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nThe couple, who had 12 children, also \u201cmainstreamed home economics and domestic management.\u201d[footnote]Paules-Bronet, Ileana. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlean.com\/taylor-gilbreth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Movie 'Cheaper by the Dozen' Was Inspired by a Real 1920's Family With 12 Children.<\/a>\" Little Things. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote] A psychologist as well as an industrial engineer, Lillian Gilbreth is credited with a number of inventions including shelves on the inside of refrigerator doors, the foot pedal on the trash can, wall light switches, and the linear kitchen layout. In a biography of Lillian Gilbreth, The American Society of Mechanical Engineer notes that she is referred to \"the mother of modern management\" and \u201cwas awarded the prestigious Hoover Award, jointly bestowed by five leading engineering organizations in recognition of \u2018great, unselfish, non-technical services by engineers to humanity.\u2019\"[footnote]Giges, Nancy. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.asme.org\/topics-resources\/content\/lillian-moller-gilbreth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lillian Moller Gilbreth.<\/a>\" ASME.org. April 30, 2012. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote]\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Practice Question<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/351fbb8b-cbb5-4de7-af78-365eb845f1f1\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Discuss classical scientific management theories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The foundation for modern human resource management was established in the early 1900s, with the emergence of scientific management principles. Influential classical scientific management theorists include Dr. Frederick Taylor as well as Frank Gilbreth and his wife, Dr. Lillian Gilbreth. The contributions of two additional thought leaders of the classical period, administrative theorist Henri Fayol and humanist Mary Parker Follett, will be discussed in subsequent sections.<\/p>\n<p>Considered the \u201cfather of scientific management,\u201d Dr. Taylor published his principles, also referred to as \u201cTaylorism,\u201d in a paper titled \u201cThe Principles of Scientific Management\u201d in 1911.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Taylor, Frederick. &quot;The Principles of Scientific Management.&quot; New York and London: Harper &amp; Brothers Publishers. 1911.\" id=\"return-footnote-490-1\" href=\"#footnote-490-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a> In his introduction, Taylor observes that:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The search for better, for more competent men&#8230;was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply. What we are all looking for, however, is the ready-made, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realize that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom some one else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_575\" style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-575\" class=\"wp-image-575\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1972\/2017\/07\/21222440\/401px-Frederick_Winslow_Taylor_crop-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"A headshot of Frederick Winslow Taylor\" width=\"250\" height=\"74\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-575\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 1. Frederick Winslow Taylor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Taylor\u2019s argument was that the remedy to inefficiency was systematic management, rather than the search for an extraordinary human resource. Specifically, he sought to prove that \u201cthe best management is a true science,\u201d and \u201cto show that the fundamental principles of scientific management are applicable to human activities.\u201d And, ultimately, that the correct application of these principles can yield exceptional improvements in efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast to the labor abuses and hostility common in America\u2019s early industrial age, Taylor believed that the purpose of management was to maximize both employer and employee prosperity. In terms of the individual employee, maximum prosperity means not only maximizing one\u2019s wage but developing each man to his state of maximum efficiency. A mechanical engineer by training, Taylor designed a number of time and motion studies to determine the one best way to complete a specific task. Taylor distilled his research into four principles of scientific management:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apply the scientific method to analyze work and determine the most efficient way to perform every task.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Match workers to jobs based on their capability and motivation and train them to work at maximum efficiency.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide instruction and supervision to ensure that the \u201cbest\u201d method is being used to complete each task.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divide work between managers and workers, with managers focusing on planning and training and workers focusing on production.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"attachment_576\" style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-576\" class=\"wp-image-576\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1972\/2017\/07\/21223556\/512px-Lillian_Moller_Gilbreth-245x300.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Lillian Gilbreth\" width=\"250\" height=\"306\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-576\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2. Lillian Gilbreth<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dr. Lillian Gilbreth and her husband Frank were also pioneers in the field of scientific management. Like Taylor, the Gilbreth\u2019s applied their engineering skills to identifying \u201cthe one best way\u201d to perform a task. In addition to time and motion studies, the couple used film to identify opportunities to improve work processes. In his lifetime, Frank Gilbreth, the \u201cfather of motion study,\u201d made over 250,000 feet of 35mm of motion picture films. Frank\u2019s major contribution was to categorize human work as a number of individual motions, termed \u201cTherbligs,\u201d and then optimize these motions to improve efficiency\u2014a process he applied to operations ranging from bricklaying to surgery.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"&quot;The Tale of Taylor and Gilbreth.&quot; All About Lean. November 10, 2013. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-490-2\" href=\"#footnote-490-2\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The couple, who had 12 children, also \u201cmainstreamed home economics and domestic management.\u201d<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Paules-Bronet, Ileana. &quot;The Movie 'Cheaper by the Dozen' Was Inspired by a Real 1920's Family With 12 Children.&quot; Little Things. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-490-3\" href=\"#footnote-490-3\" aria-label=\"Footnote 3\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[3]<\/sup><\/a> A psychologist as well as an industrial engineer, Lillian Gilbreth is credited with a number of inventions including shelves on the inside of refrigerator doors, the foot pedal on the trash can, wall light switches, and the linear kitchen layout. In a biography of Lillian Gilbreth, The American Society of Mechanical Engineer notes that she is referred to &#8220;the mother of modern management&#8221; and \u201cwas awarded the prestigious Hoover Award, jointly bestowed by five leading engineering organizations in recognition of \u2018great, unselfish, non-technical services by engineers to humanity.\u2019&#8221;<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Giges, Nancy. &quot;Lillian Moller Gilbreth.&quot; ASME.org. April 30, 2012. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-490-4\" href=\"#footnote-490-4\" aria-label=\"Footnote 4\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Practice Question<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_351fbb8b-cbb5-4de7-af78-365eb845f1f1\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/351fbb8b-cbb5-4de7-af78-365eb845f1f1?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_351fbb8b-cbb5-4de7-af78-365eb845f1f1\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-490\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Scientific Management Theories. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Nina Burokas. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">Public domain content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Frederick Winslow Taylor. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Unknown. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Frederick_Winslow_Taylor_crop.jpg\">https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Frederick_Winslow_Taylor_crop.jpg<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/pdm\">Public Domain: No Known Copyright<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Lillian Moller Gilbreth. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Harris &amp; Ewing. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lillian_Moller_Gilbreth.jpg\">https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lillian_Moller_Gilbreth.jpg<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/pdm\">Public Domain: No Known Copyright<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section><hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-490-1\">Taylor, Frederick. \"The Principles of Scientific Management.\" New York and London: Harper &amp; Brothers Publishers. 1911. <a href=\"#return-footnote-490-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-490-2\">\"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlean.com\/taylor-gilbreth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Tale of Taylor and Gilbreth.<\/a>\" All About Lean. November 10, 2013. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-490-2\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 2\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-490-3\">Paules-Bronet, Ileana. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlean.com\/taylor-gilbreth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Movie 'Cheaper by the Dozen' Was Inspired by a Real 1920's Family With 12 Children.<\/a>\" Little Things. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-490-3\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 3\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-490-4\">Giges, Nancy. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.asme.org\/topics-resources\/content\/lillian-moller-gilbreth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lillian Moller Gilbreth.<\/a>\" ASME.org. April 30, 2012. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-490-4\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 4\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":17,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Scientific Management Theories\",\"author\":\"Nina Burokas\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"pd\",\"description\":\"Frederick Winslow Taylor\",\"author\":\"Unknown\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Frederick_Winslow_Taylor_crop.jpg\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"pd\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"pd\",\"description\":\"Lillian Moller Gilbreth\",\"author\":\"Harris & Ewing\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lillian_Moller_Gilbreth.jpg\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"pd\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"fbcd5fb6-ba5b-48ba-bdf6-87918a25d261, f0fb5344-43e7-498f-b328-43da45ecd448","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-490","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":482,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3453,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/490\/revisions\/3453"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/482"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/490\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=490"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=490"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}