Scientific Management
What are the case studies for Scientific Management?
Amazon and Royal Mail
Criticisms of Scientific Management
Anti-Unionism Dishonesty Exploitation of Workers (increase productivity but no increase in wages) If a ground worker came up with a good idea, it would be overlooked. Oversimplified view of human motivation
Name some common attributes of a Scientific Manager
Authoritative Analytical Decisive Non-emotional Problem Solver Scientific
What is the concept of 'Task Idea'?
Workers usually receive detailed written instructions. Managers specify how the task is to be done and how long it should take.
What are the principles of Scientific Management?
Every aspect of every task is observed and measured. It is important to fit the right worker to the right task (only managers can do this) Managers and workers co-ordinate to ensure that the work is done according to the science Equal divisions of work: Managers do the 'mental labour' and workers do the 'manual labour'
Is Scientific Management and example of rational control or normative control?
Rational Control
What are the underlying themes of Scientific Management?
Tasks are broken down into small regularised movements. Notion of the 'one best way' Workers are understood to be motivated by wages only Appropriation of workers autonomy and control over their work
Systematic soldiering refers to...
The intentional restriction of output by workers
What historical events contributed to the spread of scientific management practices?
The onset of WW1 and women's entrance into mechanised factory jobs as untrained workers who needed to adapt quickly to meet production targets.
Why are rationalist accounts of management popular with many managers?
They present managers as being in control
What is the basic principle of Scientific Management?
If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it
Which English Philosopher established Panopticism?
Jeremy Bentham
Taylor suspected that resistance to scientific management was most likely to come from....
Managers
Taylor believed that Scientific Management was the principle that there is one best way to organise work, based upon what?
Based upon the standardisation of time and the routinisation of motion.
What is Panopticism?
Being aware that you may be being observed, but not knowing whether you are being observed at that particular moment.
Who played a crucial role in theorising the ideas behind Scientific Management?
Frederick Taylor
What was Taylor's view of workers?
He thought workers were stupid, disliked work and were only motivated by money.
