Week 1 – Taylor – The principles of scientific management
Why do workers restrict output?
The effect of labor-saving devices
All that you have to do is to bring wealth into this world and the world uses it. Wealth is used by the
poor, not the rich. A lot of output due to devices.
The development of soldiering
Do not produce enough to get another wagecut. Soldiering – one object lesson. The absolute rule with
all workmen who knows their business.
Characteristics of the union workman
One opinion: workmen are brutal, dominant, selfish. Second opinion: workmen are close to gods.
The workmen: the chief beneficiaries
Increasing produce is larger profit. Also increase in wages. Employers are seen as friends.
What scientific management is
A change of mental outlook. The workmen, after many object lessons, come to see and the
management come to see that surplus can be made so great, providing both sides will stop their
fighting and push as hard as they can get to cheap output.
What scientific management will do
Four principles: 1. Burdens for the managers: Deliberate gathering together of the great mass of
traditional knowledge which has been in the heads of the workmen, recording it, tabulating it, reducing
it to rules and laws and formulas, which are applies in the cooperation of the management to the work
of the workmen.
The selection of the workman
2. Selection is now a big deal. Workmen will be trained, and will be paid higher wages.
Bringing together the science and the man
3. Offer workmen plums, something that is worthwhile. But also, when a workmen doesn’t cooperate,
let him go.
The principle of the division of work
4. Division into two parts: workmen and management.
The science of shoveling
In scientific management, experimenting becomes laws that save money and increase output. In the
example given here: what is the best load for a shovel to produce the best outcome?
Does scientific management pay?
If you are planning to manufacture cheaply, then you need to pay for it. But in the long run, it will pay
off.
Why do workers restrict output?
The effect of labor-saving devices
All that you have to do is to bring wealth into this world and the world uses it. Wealth is used by the
poor, not the rich. A lot of output due to devices.
The development of soldiering
Do not produce enough to get another wagecut. Soldiering – one object lesson. The absolute rule with
all workmen who knows their business.
Characteristics of the union workman
One opinion: workmen are brutal, dominant, selfish. Second opinion: workmen are close to gods.
The workmen: the chief beneficiaries
Increasing produce is larger profit. Also increase in wages. Employers are seen as friends.
What scientific management is
A change of mental outlook. The workmen, after many object lessons, come to see and the
management come to see that surplus can be made so great, providing both sides will stop their
fighting and push as hard as they can get to cheap output.
What scientific management will do
Four principles: 1. Burdens for the managers: Deliberate gathering together of the great mass of
traditional knowledge which has been in the heads of the workmen, recording it, tabulating it, reducing
it to rules and laws and formulas, which are applies in the cooperation of the management to the work
of the workmen.
The selection of the workman
2. Selection is now a big deal. Workmen will be trained, and will be paid higher wages.
Bringing together the science and the man
3. Offer workmen plums, something that is worthwhile. But also, when a workmen doesn’t cooperate,
let him go.
The principle of the division of work
4. Division into two parts: workmen and management.
The science of shoveling
In scientific management, experimenting becomes laws that save money and increase output. In the
example given here: what is the best load for a shovel to produce the best outcome?
Does scientific management pay?
If you are planning to manufacture cheaply, then you need to pay for it. But in the long run, it will pay
off.
