Frederick Winslow Taylor Criticism
Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915), an American efficiency engineer and nonfiction writer, is renowned as the progenitor of scientific management. Dissatisfied with the inefficiencies he observed in American labor practices, Taylor initiated time management studies, culminating in his seminal work, The Principles of Scientific Management (1911). This publication outlined a systematic approach to work efficiency, which greatly influenced early 20th-century industrial practices, most notably impacting Henry Ford’s assembly line innovations. As the ideas in Taylor's Principles permeated broader cultural landscapes, "Taylorism" emerged as a significant social force, laying the groundwork for modern industrial engineering and mass production.
Born into a prosperous Philadelphia family, Taylor initially pursued law before transitioning to engineering due to eyesight issues. His career commenced at the Enterprise Hydraulics Works, later advancing at the Midvale Steel Company, where he ascended from laborer to chief engineer. At Midvale, he devised time-and-motion studies and the differential piece rate, foundational elements of his management theory. As a consultant for Bethlehem Steel, he refined scientific management through meticulous worker and machinery studies.
Taylor's methodologies sparked controversy, provoking opposition from labor unions for their perceived dehumanizing nature, notably leading to a strike at the Watertown Arsenal and a subsequent governmental inquiry. Despite this, his methods were broadly adopted by industrialists like Ford, emphasizing efficiency and productivity. Taylor's legacy persists in modern management theories, as noted by critics like Louis W. Fry, who acknowledged the indispensability of Taylor's goals despite criticisms of his methods.
Taylor's influence was profound yet contentious, with critics highlighting the impracticality and complexity of his extreme worker specialization and questioning the originality of his ideas. His rigid adherence to efficiency and order is often seen as a response to early 20th-century industrial chaos. Despite these critiques, Taylorism's impact on mass production and industrialization is undeniable, as reflected in cultural artifacts like Charlie Chaplin’s film Modern Times. As discussed in works like Edwin Locke's evaluation, Taylor's theories continue to resonate in contemporary organizational practices.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Paying for Alaska
(summary)
In the following essay, O'Daniel reviews the first edition of The Principles of Scientific Management, discussing the principles of task management and efficiency engineering, while clarifying misconceptions about its primary objectives.
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Scientific Management and the Unions 1900-1932: A Historical Analysis
(summary)
In the following excerpt from his book Scientific Management and the Unions, Nadworny traces the history of theories of scientific management from their roots after the Civil War to the introduction of Taylor's system to American industry and discusses the adaptation of Taylor's methods by his successors, as well as union opposition to scientific management.
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Frederick Taylor and Frank Gilbreth: Competition in Scientific Management
(summary)
In the following essay, Nadworny explains the antagonistic split in the scientific management movement between Taylorites, who favored a stop-watch method of measurement, and adherents to Frank Gilbreth's micromotion technique.
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Frederick Winslow Taylor
(summary)
In the following essay, Urwick and Brech discuss Taylor's life and work.
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The Acceptance of F. W. Taylor by British Industry (1895-1915)
(summary)
In the following essay, Urwick and Brech discuss the application of scientific management in British industry, noting opposition to the movement that considered its principles 'hideous' and 'dehumanising.'
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The Taylor System
(summary)
In the following essay, Aitken provides a detailed analysis of Taylor's system.
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Efficiency and Uplift: Scientific Management in the Progressive Era 1890-1920
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In the following excerpt from his book Efficiency and Uplift, Haber examines Taylor's early leanings toward scientific management, including early events in his life that may have led to his later obsession with systematizing, and explains the practical application of Taylor's system in factories.
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The Maligned F. W. Taylor: A Reply to His Many Critics
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In the following essay, Fry attempts to answer Taylor's critics, conceding that Taylor's means were not always desirable, but concluding that his goals were indispensible to modern organizational behavior theory.
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The Coming Rediscovery of Scientific Management
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In the following essay, originally published in The Conference Board Record in 1976, Drucker advocates the application of Taylor's principles to what Drucker calls 'knowledge work.'
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The Ideas of Frederick W. Taylor: An Evaluation
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In the following essay, Locke defends Taylor's methods, maintaining that Taylor produced the 'most objectively valid' theories in modem thought.
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Taylorism, Responsible Autonomy and Management Strategy
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In the following essay, originally published in 1982, Wood and Kelly argue in favor of a conservative reading and application of Taylor's method, keeping in mind that Taylor's principles may not be universally practical or desirable.
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Frederick Taylor and the Public Administration Community: A Reevaluation
(summary)
In the following excerpt from his book, Schachter addresses the major points of Taylor's method as laid out in The Principles of Scientific Management and Shop Management and recounts the reaction to Taylor's ideas during his lifetime.
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Progressive Visions of War in 'The Red Badge of Courage' and 'The Principles of Scientific Management'
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In the following essay, Mulcaire argues that Stephen Crane's depiction of war in The Red Badge of Courage as mechanical and systematic indicates the widespread acceptance at the end of the nineteenth century of Taylor's principles.
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Faster Mousetrap
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In the following essay, Will reviews The One Best Way: Frederick Winslow Taylor and the Enigma of Efficiency.
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Paying for Alaska
(summary)
- Further Reading