Taylorism

Taylorism (from the topic “The Social Nature of Work”)

Introduction

Scientific Management is the theory aimed in the efficiency of work and the author of this theory is Taylor. Because of the important of the theory, Kanigel (1997) maintains that Taylorism is the part of people’s life and it has many effects to the economic .Some elements of Taylor was changed the economy of the world. Throughout a century, Scientific Management still was used in modern life. Many famous companies still use this theory. Ford, who the founder of Ford company of car was contributed and developed this theory.  Although it has many advantages for the economy or society, it also has lots of disadvantages. This essay will examine the main elements of the theory, advantages, disadvantages and the applying of this theory.

Understanding of theory

According to Introduction to Management RMIT University, Scientific management ( also called Taylorism or Taylor system) is a process of defining the separation of working as small as possible talent, and how that method can entire the job to accomplish efficiency. That called scientific management. This theory was invented by Frederick W. Taylor and two people, who contributed the theory are Fayol and Weber. Frederick W. Taylor (1856-1915), was an American engineer, and he is the investor of industrial efficiency. This theory published between 1980 and 1990. Taylor thinks people should change the traditional work and develop the new way to get the highest efficient.  Taylor aimed at the efficiency when division the work to decrease the time to study and the talent of workers. Time studies are the main ideas of his theory. In his theory, he put some main ideas: Separate the work smaller, decrease the requirement of talent and decrease the disposing of material.

The first significant element that Taylor put in his theory is separating the work smaller. According to Taylor, if workers just do a part of the work, they could do that faster and efficiency. When they do all of the work, it waste much time and the quality is not good. Separating the work help the workers focus on their work, which is suitable with them.  Furthermore, this element help the companies have the maximum efficiency than before. He thought that traditional experiences and empirical rules should be replaced by exploiting the exact string manipulation. (Taylor 1911)

The second important element that Taylor put in his theory is decrease the requirement of talent. When Taylor works in Midvale Steel, he realized difference of talent, intelligence, or motivation of the workers and the different workers varies. A published document Introduction Management indicates that the efficiency of the organization will be decreased because the workers do not do right job. They trained the workers based on their talents or abilities to avoid they do wrong work. In addition, the efficiency of the work is one of some main points of Taylor, so this element can reduced the time and money of the companies.(Taylor 1911)

The third element in Taylor’s theory is that decrease the disposing of material. Time studies is the main ideas of Taylor, so he thought the companies should arrange the machines and the material to reduce the movement of the people, who work in that companies. When people move around their work, they wasted lots of time and the company might be decreased the quality of the work.

Taylor (1911) maintains that whether the scientific apply for the work, it is a good way to do the job. Furthermore, it could decrease the bad behavior between the managers and employees. Scientific management has strongly basic can give what the labors want- high salary.

Theory of Taylor was applied in the car company of Henry Ford, who contributed Taylor’s theory. Henry Ford (1863-1947) was the boss of Ford Motor company. He was the first one of people, who applied Taylor’s theory in the life. He was not only makes the revolution industrial in Europe and American, but also has many effects to economy and society in 20^th century. However, he saw some negative sides in Taylorism, he want his employees get more salary and the cost of produces was decreased. Ford used the first element of Taylorism- separate the work smaller. In his factory, each worker has difference work such as some workers assemble the wheel, while other workers assemble the frame of the car. Applying the scientific in industrial could help the company have the best efficiency.

Application of theory

The theory of Taylor is important for not only economy but also society. Some evidences are that it was applied until now such as McDonald companies, Vinamilk company. Nevertheless, that theory also has some advantages and disadvantages.

The first positive effect of Scientific Management is that it increases the efficiency of workers. Using this theory help the company explores all of the talents or abilities of the workers. It results in many profits of the companies. Reyes (2012) writes that management has to connect with the task of scientific in exactly choice. In addition, the company should be has same number of managers and workers. This is so important because the company has many workers, who have talents will increase the productivity.

The second advantage of this theory is that the organization of the company became much successful and flexible than before. Moreover, each person, who work in the company was studied and developed their skills to create the good work’s environment and the relationship in workplace. Aderohunmu (2004) writes that in McDonald fast food company, the employees have to pass the training skills of them because the boss of company believe that their staff must know the task of work. McDonald company did well in training skill program and also receive “Employer of Choice Award” from the magazine of restaurant. That company has been working well to keep good quality of products, using technology and training the workers. Relationship is the part of the successful company, because they need the relationship with their partners or their customers to create the brand.

Finally, the theory aimed to encourage the salary of the labors to produce the higher productions. That benefic is for either the company or the costumers. The companies would have the reputation and more customers because of the good quality of products. Furthermore, the customers would have the best productions, which they need. It creates the good relationship between the company and the customers- which is the most one the companies want. In fact, the strategy of Vinamilk company is that knowing the demand of Vietnam’s young people to produce the good quality of products to create the trust brand for Vietnam’s customers (TN 2011). The customers always want to buy the products, which are high quality but the price is low, so that element of Taylorism create the opportunity to extend the market.

On the other hand, Scientific Management has many disadvantages. The first negative of Taylorism is that many workers angry with the ideas watched and time and it resulted in many strikes of labors. They felt that they lost the human rights because of the management of time. According to Schneirov, in 1894, the strike was happened because the boss of the company fired many managers and labors, decreased the workers, who have skills, decreased the salary, time the workers.

Next, the limits of creativity and do not have the motivation of work are two negative effects. Theory of Taylor aimed in the theories than the practice so it leads to the labors feel boring.

That is easy to get the evident of Scientific Management in the 21^st century such as computer industrials or fast food company and many activities in their life. Almost of the activities could efficient when people used Scientific Management. Ritzer (2000) demonstrates that in McDonalds Company, the cooking time have to do exactly and getting for all devices in that company. The rules are that French fries must be cut in 9-30 second and the staffs, who grill the meat has to put the bread move from left to right.

The significant theories that relate to the topic will prove their relevance to modern organizations clearly. Cameron and Pertuze (2009) also write the theory of Taylor spread in many countries in the world. Taiichi Ohno, the founder of the Toyota company said that all the processes of this company were used by Taylor’s theory such as “Kanban” system. Some examples of the efficiency of Taylorism are that Takuo Godo said that the productivity of Japan’s labors was less 5.3 times than England’s labors and less 7 times than American workers. (Cameron and Pertuze 2009) Thus, that evidences show the big benefits of Taylor’s theory in economic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Scientific Management is the important theory for the development of the humanity. Taylor dedicated that theory, which has some good elements to increase the productivity. Applying the theory in the life has many profits for either the company or the employees. Some study was viewed that modern company engineering relate Taylor’s first element, the approach of management relate in the second principle of Taylor and training skills for labors is the third point. This theory has negative point is that the workers could not give their ideas, they have to obey to the managers. The company should solve this problem to contribute the theory better. Finally, the element of Scientific Management till appropriate for future.

 

References

Kanigel, R 1997, ‘The man who invented American efficiency’, The New York Times, viewed 29 July 2012 <http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/NewsDetailsPage/NewsDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=News&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&source=&sortBy=&displayGroups=&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CA150303130&gt;

Ritzer, G 2000, ‘The McDonaldization Of Society’, Sage Publications Inc

Taylor, F 1911, ‘The principles of scientific management’, viewed 29 July 2012, <http://archive.org/stream/principlesofscie00taylrich#page/10/mode/2up&gt;

Reyes, T 2012,’Key advantages and disadvantages of scientific management’, viewed 29 July 2012, <http://ezinearticles.com/?Key-Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Scientific-Management&id=6821825&gt;

Cameron, BJ and Pertuze, JA 2009, ‘Disciplinary links between scientific management and strategy development’, pp 4, viewed 29 July 2012.

TN 2011,’Vinamilk cooperation for the future’, Vietnam chamber of commerce and industry, 11 April, viewed 29 July 2012, <http://www.vccinews.com/news_detail.asp?news_id=22922&gt;

Aderohunmu, R 2004, ‘McDonald ‘s Restaurant’, Survey of Operations Management

Project I, 15 November, pp. 15-16, viewed 30 July 2012.

Schneirov, R ‘The Pullman strike and Boycott’, Indiana State University, viewed 30 July 2012, <http://dig.lib.niu.edu/gildedage/pullman/events3.html&gt;