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Short note: Scientific theory of management

Short answer

Scientific management, developed by F.W. Taylor, replaces rule of thumb with scientific study to find the best method and raise productivity. Its four principles are science not rule of thumb, scientific selection and training, cooperation, and equal division of work. It gives higher output but may cause monotony and ignores social needs.

Write a short note on scientific theory of management.

Scientific management was developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856–1915), the "father of scientific management", in The Principles of Scientific Management (1911). It is the application of scientific methods, instead of rule of thumb, to find the best way of doing a job and to increase productivity.

Four principles

  1. Science, not rule of thumb: study each job scientifically (time and motion study) and set a standard method and standard output.
  2. Scientific selection and training of workers: choose the worker best suited to each job and train them in the standard method.
  3. Cooperation between management and workers: harmony, not conflict, so that work is done by the scientific method.
  4. Equal division of work and responsibility: management plans and supervises; workers perform.

Techniques

Time study, motion study, standardisation of tools and methods, differential piece-rate wage, functional foremanship, and a planning department.

Merits and demerits

  • Merits: higher productivity, lower cost, fair wages for output, standardisation.
  • Demerits: workers may feel treated as machines, monotony, trade union opposition, ignores social needs.

Relevance in construction: work study of bricklaying, standard rates of output, gang composition, and productivity-based incentives.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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