Taylor’s Scientific Management

Principles of Management - Taylor’s Scientific Management

Principles of Scientific Management

1.    Science, not rule of thumb

Scientific management emphasizes the requirement of scientific study and analysis to replace old and traditional rule of thumb approach. Manager has to decide the matters on the basis of data and information. Taylor has stressed for research and study for new methods of management.

2.    Harmony, not Discord

Harmony focuses on the unity of action while discord means difference in approach. In an enterprise, both owner and employees have their own interest. Scientific management emphasizes that there must be absolute harmony between management and workers to maintain unity in action.

3.    Co – operation, not Individualism

This principle of scientific management emphasizes that the organizational objectives are above the individual’s personal objective. An organization is established to achieve its objectives. There must be co – operation among all the members of the organization to bring smoothness in the organizational performance.

4.    Development of each person to his maximum efficiency and prosperity

The workers should be selected on the basis of organizational requirement. Management has to take necessary steps to develop working efficiency and capability of each worker. These steps involve scientific training, education, guidelines, instructions, promotion and financial incentives.

5.    Maximum output in place of restricted output

Taylor has given emphasis on the maximum output instead of limited output or minimum output. This principle is essential for the promotion of prosperity of workers , owners and also to the society at large. Maximum production ensures more wages to workers because of piece rate system of wage payment.

6.    Equal division of responsibility between management and workers

According to this principle, managers must concentrate in planning of the work and workers for the implementation of plans in practice. Managers have to prepare plans and procedures an work should be divided among the subordinates and should feel responsibility to achieve defines objectives.

7.    Mental revolution of both management and workers

Taylor’s principle of scientific management emphasizes that there must be mental revolution on part of both management and workers. It is realized that no plan of management will succeed unless there is a feeling that they have to work hard. Thus, it is essential to maintain best friendship and firm relation between both parts.
These are the various principles of scientific management by F.W. Taylor which has generally focused on plans, hardwork and relation among every members of management.

 Limitations of Scientific management

1.    Focus on mechanistic approach

It has provided more emphasis on technical aspects of the work. Employees get remuneration on basis of their production units not on the basis of time spent. Therefore, this theory provides importance on mechanistic approach and ignores the human relation concept.

2.    Ignores human relation approach

It only focuses on economic needs of employees. Employees get remuneration on their efficiency. It doesnot mention about informal relation between workers on the job in order to meet their social need.

3.    Employees feel monotony

Employees are forced to work on the same task time and again leading to monotony. They do not encourage involving in innovative and creative work on the basis of their efficiency. Workers have no life outside their work.

4.    More work load

This theory focuses on increasing working efficiency of the employees. They are forced to speed up the process beyond their capacity to maximize productivity. This sort of practice creates physical as well as mental problems among the employees.

5.    Lack of initiation

In this theory, workers are not allowed to take initiation in their performance. Foremen issue detailed set of instructions in respect of the job to be performed and the method of performing it. Therefore, workers cannot show their creativity.

6.    No focus on group work

This theory focuses only individual performance of the employees. It does not mention about the group performance. At the present business environment, group and team work is taken as an important strategy of management.