Scientific Management Approach

The Scientific Management approach was initially described and theorized by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In his book “Principles of Scientific Management”, first published in 1911, Frederick Taylor formulated a view on management that was highly inspired by engineering principles.. Frederick Taylor developed Scientific Management out of the belief that tasks could be optimized scientifically, and that Scientific Management could design the best rational way of performing any task, which would lead to enhanced productivity and profitability. Enhanced productivity would not only lead to greater profits for the employers, but also for the workers, who would be given the tools and training to perform at optimum performance.(Wu, 2009) This theory was intended at studying the liaison between thephysical nature of the work and physiological nature of the workmen.It also stresses the importance of technical competency which will improve the organizations efficiency (Wu, 2009). Taylor’s four universal principles include: constructing a science for each element of the workers tasks; scientifically select, train, teach and develop the workers managers need to fully cooperate with the workers and the work shall be shared equally between managers and workers (Wu, 2009). According to Bell and Martin (2012), “it is important for managers to use Taylor’s scientific methods of determine the component tasks identified with a specific job and how long it takes to perform each component in order to know if the work load is balanced between all of the workers, or if the work needs to be reapportioned” ( p. 111).

Based on scientific management theory, one of the routines in healthcare setting that seem to be inefficient is communication. It can be among the patient and the health care providers, between the employees in the same unit, between staff members and the management, between the interdisciplinary team

References: Bell, R., & Martin, J. (2012). The Relevance of Scientific Management and Equity Theory in Everyday Managerial Communication Situations. Journal Of Management Policy & Practice,13(3), 106-115. Retrieved from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=79170665&site=eds-live&scope=site