Is the Classical Approach to Management Obsolete? Critically Discuss Your Views on This Matter.
Introduction
There have been many different approaches to management over the past few centuries; autocratic, which causes dissatisfaction for employees due to authority being in the hands of one person; paternalistic, in which the authoritative leader cares for his employees more than his profits; democratic, in which the management allows the employees to voice their opinions and laissez faire in which the management stays, for the majority, out of its employees business. These approaches are ever changing due to developments in modern day society. (Khilawala, 2002).
The classical approach to management is typically known as the scientific or autocratic approach. I intend to investigate three of the original classical management theorists; Taylor, Weber and Fayol, and discuss their principles coming to my own conclusion as to whether their views are still relevant in today’s society.
Frederick Taylor 1856-1915 – Scientific Management
In a time of Industrial Revolution where there were new scientific discoveries being brought to light every day, Taylor was well placed to imagine that science could also influence the way in which managements were run. Taylor aimed to improve economic efficiency and maximise productivity by optimizing the way in which tasks were performed and preventing the ‘soldiering’ (slacking) of workers. The name of this new era of modern management was to be Scientific Management.
To reverse this soldiering, Taylor began a series of ‘time studies’ hoping to find the optimal way in which to perform particular jobs. The conclusions of these studies resulted in Taylor’s principles of scientific management; the ‘rule-of-thumb’ – in which workers decided personally how to perform their jobs – was to be replaced with the task the worker was best suited for – the ‘one best practice’ meaning a short learning curve therefore maximum efficiency in minimum time. Worker’s would be trained and observed ensuring the scientific methods were
There have been many different approaches to management over the past few centuries; autocratic, which causes dissatisfaction for employees due to authority being in the hands of one person; paternalistic, in which the authoritative leader cares for his employees more than his profits; democratic, in which the management allows the employees to voice their opinions and laissez faire in which the management stays, for the majority, out of its employees business. These approaches are ever changing due to developments in modern day society. (Khilawala, 2002).
The classical approach to management is typically known as the scientific or autocratic approach. I intend to investigate three of the original classical management theorists; Taylor, Weber and Fayol, and discuss their principles coming to my own conclusion as to whether their views are still relevant in today’s society.
Frederick Taylor 1856-1915 – Scientific Management
In a time of Industrial Revolution where there were new scientific discoveries being brought to light every day, Taylor was well placed to imagine that science could also influence the way in which managements were run. Taylor aimed to improve economic efficiency and maximise productivity by optimizing the way in which tasks were performed and preventing the ‘soldiering’ (slacking) of workers. The name of this new era of modern management was to be Scientific Management.
To reverse this soldiering, Taylor began a series of ‘time studies’ hoping to find the optimal way in which to perform particular jobs. The conclusions of these studies resulted in Taylor’s principles of scientific management; the ‘rule-of-thumb’ – in which workers decided personally how to perform their jobs – was to be replaced with the task the worker was best suited for – the ‘one best practice’ meaning a short learning curve therefore maximum efficiency in minimum time. Worker’s would be trained and observed ensuring the scientific methods were
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