Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915), the Father of Scientific Management, assumed that labor is not the cause of most problems in business and it is only the management which can provide solutions to the problems of the business. His principles were:
1. Develop a science for each element of an individual’s work to replace the old rule-of-thumb method.
2. Scientifically select and then,teach and develop the worker.
3. Heartily co-operate with the workers so as to ensure that all work is done in accordance with the principles of the science that has been developed.
4. Divide work and responsibility almost equally between management and workers. Management does all work for which it is better suited than the workers.
EXAMPLE: In many ways McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC) are the archetypical examples of organizations employing Scientific Management in production. Within this restaurant chain, uniformity is complete; no matter what country we are in every branch of McDonalds is the same, as the methods they use to prepare food, clean floors, promote staff and lock up on closing. It is this ability to efficiently supply standard food and service throughout the world that has allowed McDonalds to become the biggest restaurant chain on the planet.
Frank and Lilian Gilbreth, this couple invented a device called microchronometer and has contributed to eliminate unnecessary body movements of labors and thus save time. Using Gilbreth’s techniques, a bricklayer for example was more productive and less fatigued at the end of his/her working day. The Gilbreths implied their idea on their family too!
Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, parents of 12 children, ran their household using scientific management principles and techniques. Two of their children wrote a book, Cheaper by the Dozen, that described life with the two masters of efficiency.
Using time and motion study to eliminate wasted motions, hiring the best