---
title: "Short note: Scientific theory of management"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_8/construction_management:scientific-management-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/scientific-management-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Scientific theory of management

Construction Management · Chapter 10: Personnel Management

- Asked in: 2068 Bhadra (old course), 4 marks
- Video: [Frederick Taylor Scientific Management](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfy_AHG-MU) — Organizational Communication Channel
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/scientific-management-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-10

## Question

Write a short note on 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.

## Answer

**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.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Scientific management was developed by:
   A. Maslow
   B. F. W. Taylor
   C. Herzberg
   D. Henri Fayol
   Answer: B. Taylor, in The Principles of Scientific Management (1911). (Key point: Founder)

2. The first principle replaces rule of thumb with:
   A. Higher supervision only
   B. Scientific study of jobs (time and motion) to set a standard method
   C. Random trials
   D. Worker choice of method
   Answer: B. Jobs are studied scientifically to set standard method and output. (Key point: Core idea)

3. Which is a technique of scientific management?
   A. Autocratic recruiting
   B. Equal pay regardless of output
   C. Absence of planning
   D. Differential piece-rate wage
   Answer: D. Differential piece-rate wage is a Taylor technique. (Key point: Technique)

4. Which is a demerit?
   A. Workers may feel treated as machines
   B. Lower cost
   C. Higher productivity
   D. Standardisation
   Answer: A. Demerits include monotony and treating workers as machines. (Key point: Demerit)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Motivation and Herzberg theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amotivation-herzberg) — Construction Management, chapter 10, asked 4×
- [Short note: Maslow's theory of motivation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amaslow-theory-note) — Construction Management, chapter 10
- [Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy and Herzberg's theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amotivation-maslow-herzberg) — Construction Management, chapter 10

## Related in other subjects

- [Behavioral vs scientific management theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Abehavioral-vs-scientific) — Organization and Management, chapter 3
- [Organization vs management; scientific approach](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Aorg-vs-management-scientific) — Organization and Management, chapter 2
- [Scientific management and Taylor's principles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Ascientific-management-taylor) — Organization and Management, chapter 3
- [Administrative management theory, Fayol](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Aadmin-management-fayol) — Organization and Management, chapter 3, asked 3×