The Principles of Scientific Management (ePub)

Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915) was an influential American mechanical engineer, management consultant, and the intellectual father of the efficiency movement that peaked in the early 20th century. His core idea, that management could be studied systematically and improved through scientific methods, led to a revolution in industrial production and gave birth to the field of scientific management, or 'Taylorism.' He is most famously known for his seminal work, 'The Principles of Scientific Management' (1911), in which he outlined his methods for increasing efficiency and productivity through precise measurement, standardization, and the scientific selection of workers. Taylor's influence extended beyond factory floors; his ideas on management have had long-lasting implications for various fields ranging from manufacturing to software engineering. Critically, Taylor was both lauded for his innovations that contributed to higher efficiency and critiqued for his often mechanistic view of human labor. Despite controversies, Taylor's work has made him a central figure in the history of management theory, and his literary contributions continue to be a subject of both admiration and debate in scholarly circles. His systematized approach paved the way for subsequent theorists who further evolved the discipline of management science. Taylor's legacy remains integral to understanding the development of modern organizational practices and labor relations.