Principles of Scientific Management by F. W. Taylor
F. W. Taylor (Fredrick Winslow Taylor) is the founder of this theory. Based on many experiments and analysis F. W. Taylor published the principles of scientific management. These principles mostly focused on the methods and techniques implemented for production management.
Science, not rule of thumb
This principle insists on science or scientific management. Taylor says there should be a scientific base to any activity or decision taken in production management. Though simplest activity implemented such as lunch break or tea break, moving the material from one place to other or the like many activities. Taylor says every activity should have scientific base. Manager should take decisions based on facts.
For example,
1. In production management department the managers take decision regarding purchasing or raw material. Manager should analyze the future required production capacity or demand. And based on this fact the manager should take the decision regarding how much raw material he/she should purchase.
2. production manager while making decision regarding advancement in the technology or production, need to execute scientific investigation. This investigation analyzes facts regarding production cost, production capacity (current and future).
The techniques of production management, time study, method study is belonging to scientific management.
Harmony not discord(conflict)
Taylor says there should not be any place or cause for conflict between the employees, group, and department. Conflict between employees or groups or department is responsible for bad performance. Conflict can enhance the probability of failure.
For example,
- If there is conflict between marketing and production department. The marketing department may not cooperate with production department. Such as if CRM (Customer Relationship Management) department of marketing received some complaints regarding quality of products. The prime responsibility of marketing management department is to convey this information immediately to production department. If not do so, the loyal customers will no longer connected.
- Another example is, conflict between employees. Employees of Manufacturing and the employees of quality department may have conflict. Quality inspector always strives to ensure quality control by rejecting the faulty lots. If it is not done by polite behavior with workers, it will create conflict between them. Result of conflict between quality inspector and workers will be on faulty production.
- Conflict between superior and subordinates. Conflict arises If production manager does not guide and motivate properly to the supervisor, quality inspector, engineers. the conflict between production manager and supervisor or engineer or quality inspector causes the barriers in achieving expected results. Expected result in terms of quality, quantity, and productivity of employees.
Factors responsible for conflict between employees
Dominance of informal versus formal groups
Priority to the Personal objectives of employee instead common goal
Partiality implemented by superiors
Lac of proper performance appraisal
Factors causes the conflict between groups or departments
Communication gap
Incentive system which fair for one whereas unfair for other
Dominance of seniors on juniors
Scientific selection, training, and development
Most of the Multinational companies implements scientific selection methods in order to select the suitable candidates. They conduct aptitude test, technical tests, group discussions and the like activities to determine the potential of candidates. Scientific methods used to determine the potential of candidates.
For example,
Cognizant corporation, Tata Consultancy Services and the like companies implements scientific methods to select suitable candidates. Cognizant and TCS conducts campus interviews in which they conduct aptitude test. HR interview conducted for shortlisted candidates in aptitude test. There are different methods used by multinational companies to determine the potential of candidates.
Cyient (formerly Infotech Enterprises Limited) selects experienced candidates based on technical tests. These companies conduct technical test to determine whether the candidates have required skills. Technical test is the scientific method which determine the potential and capability of candidates to perform on required position.
Organization implements Training and development to enhance the skillset of employees. Some companies conduct training program for existing employees and some MNCs conducts these programs for newly appointed employees. TCS, Cognizant and many MNCs conducts such training programs for new and existing employees depends upon the requirement.
Cooperation, not individualism
This principle says all the efforts of employees and groups should coordinate toward common goal. Employees individual goal can create barriers in achieving organization goal. Cooperation between employees, groups and departments determines the coordination of efforts toward common goal. Every employee should take care of their efforts to ensure achievement of organizational goal first.
All the work of individual employees, groups and department are interrelated and may interdependent each other. They are linked with each other. Of disturbance in any of this work can create barriers in smoothly execution of all the activities of organization. So, the cooperation of employees plays important role in making excellency in execution of all the efforts.
Maximum, not restricted output
This principle is based upon the continuous improvement. Organization should provide favorable environment for maximum output and performance of employees. Innovation and generating creative ideas are possible when the organization is ready to implement and provide required resources.
Equal division of responsibilities between management and workers
Manager should make division of work based on suitability and capability of employees. Management assigns the work to the employees which are suitable and capable to complete. Management determines the division of work based upon work conditions, available resources, employee, or workers skillset etc.
if the work assigned to the workers is not suitable as per workers capability, it will not possible to get expected result. It is essential to makes equal division of responsibilities based upon workers capabilities, work type, required skillset and available resources.
Techniques of scientific management
Tayler published some techniques which are effective when implemented in production management practices. The scientific management techniques play vital role in making efforts optimum, accurate and effective. Expected results can be achieved easily by implementing these scientific techniques or methods. Following are some scientific methods the management can implement to get expected result.
- Standardization of work
Taylor says every work or method implemented in production management should have scientific base. Company should determine the tea break time through fatigue study. Time required to move material from one place to other through time study. The way the specific work completed requires standardized methods.
Taylors opinion is towards scientific way of doing all the activities. Scientific ways are the best ways of doing the work.
- Functional foremanship
Functional foremanship or functional organization is divided into many parts. Each of such parts assigned to specialized person. Specialized persons such as quality inspector, route clerk, discipline officer, gang boss, speed boss, repair boss etc.
- Scientific study
Time study and method study are the scientific methods used to determine the best way of doing work and appropriate time to complete the activity.
- Differential wage system/differential piece rate
Differentia wage system concerned with motivation of employees by paying them based on their performances.
- Mental revolution
Mind set of company and employees plays important role in making their healthy relationship. There is win-win situation If employees work for the betterment of employer and employer work for the betterment of employees. Mutual understanding between employees, groups and between employees and employers plays vital role in making organization successful.