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Understanding the Meaning and Definition of Scientific Management

Meaning of Scientific Management

The term scientific management is the combination of two words i.e., scientific and management. The word "Scientific" means systematic analytical and objective approach while "management" means getting things done through others. In simple words scientific management is the art of knowing best and cheapest way. 

It is the art of knowing exactly what is to be done by whom it is to be done and what is the best and cheapest way of doing it. Scientific methods and techniques are applied in the field of management i.e., recruitment, selection, training, placement of workers and methods of doing work in the best and cheapest way.

    Definition of Scientific Management

    Scientific Management is an early management theory analyzing and improving workflows in factories though the use of 'science'. Its main objective was improving economic efficiency, especially individual labor productivity. Its development began with Taylor in the 1880s and 1890s within the manufacturing industries. Many SM themes are still important parts of industrial engineering and management today. These include analysis, synthesis, logic, rationality, empiricism, work ethic, production efficiency, elimination of waste, direct reward mechanisms, and standardization of best practices, organizational structure, and knowledge transfer into tools, processes, and documentation. Also called 'Taylorism'.
    1. According to Fredrick Winslow Taylor, "Scientific management means knowing exactly what you want men to do and seeing that they do it in the best and the cheapest way."
    2. According to Peter F. Drucker, “Scientific management is the organized study of work, the analysis of work into its simplest element and the systematic improvement of the workers".
    3. According to Lioyd, Dodd and zynch, "Scientific management seeks to get the maximum from methods, men materials machines and money and it controls the works of production from the location and layout of the worker to the final distribution of the product."

    The Scientific management can be studied under the following heads

    1. Primary principles of scientific management as evolved by F.W. Taylor - F.W. Taylor, the father of scientific management evolved the following five primary principle of scientific management:
      • Science, not Rule of Thumb - Rule of thumb was the technique of pre-scientific management era. Taylor maintained that the rule of thumb should be replaced by scientific knowledge. While rule of thumb emphasizes mere estimation, scientific method denotes precision in determining any aspect of work. This should be done with the help of careful scientific investigation. Exactness of various aspects of work like day's fair work, standardization in work, differential price rate for payment etc. is the basic care of scientific management. Therefore, it is essential that these should be measured precisely and not on mere estimates.
      • Harmony not Discord - Taylor emphasized that harmony rather than discord should be obtained in group action. Harmony means that a group should work as a unit and contribute to the maximum. Within it there should be mutual give and take situation and proper understanding.
      • Co-operation not Individualism - Scientific management requires that parts of industrial body co-operate with each other, scientific management is based on mutual confidence, co-operation and goodwill. It requires a complete mental revolution on the part of both workers and management. Taylor suggested "Substitution of war for peace, hearty and brotherly co-operation for contention and strife, replacement of suspicious watchfulness with mutual confidence of becoming friends instead of enemies."
      • The Development of each man to his greatest efficiency and prosperity - In order to maximize production all possible efforts are made to increase the efficiency of workers. Workers are selected according to the nature of work. It includes scientific training, scientific allotment of work, implementation of incentive wage plan above all, development of workers to the fullest extent for themselves and also for the companies’ highest prosperity. Scientific management leads to the development of each worker to his greatest efficiency and prosperity.
    2. Secondary principles of scientific management.
      • Standardization of Tools and Equipment’s - another principle of scientific management is the standardization of tools and equipment’s. It is essential for the improvement of quality of products and also for bringing about uniformity in the production of standard goods. As a matter of fact, standardization should be maintained in respect of tools, equipment’s, materials, period of work, working conditions, amount of work, cost of production etc.
      • Scientific Selection and Training of Workers - Scientific management requires a radical change in the selection and training or workers. They must be selected on a scientific basis. The old traditional and absolute method of selection of workers has to be replaced by the scientific and modern methods. Taylor suggested that the workers should be selected on scientific basis taking into account their educational background, health, work experience, aptitude, physical, strength and I.Q. etc. Further, proper training by qualified persons should be given according to their capabilities and nature of work.
      • Experimentation and Scientific Investigation - The success of scientific management depends upon experimentation and investigation. It involves analytical study, observation research, experimentation and investigation. It is only through constant experimentation and scientific investigation that one can find out the best and most efficient methods of doing a work. It has been rightly said that experimentation and investigation is the life-blood of scientific management. Under scientific management too.
      • Incentive Wage System - Taylor for the first time advocated an incentive wage system in the form of differential piece wages instead of time wages. Under differential piece system two wage rates are prescribed, i.e., one lower and the other higher. Those who are unable to perform standard work within standard time are paid wages at lower rate per unit. On the contrary, those who attain standard or even more within the standard time are paid wages at higher rate per unit. Thus, there is considerable difference in wages between those who attain and those who do not attain standards.
      • Efficient attain system - Another important principle of scientific management is the efficient costing system. It is an essential element of scientific management. The management is interested in knowing the cost of production not only total cost but cost at every stage of production. Besides, it must see there is no waste, and proper cost control has been ensured.
      • Scientific Allotment of Task - Another important principle of scientific management is the scientific allotment of task. Every job must be entrusted to the best available man according to his aptitude and training for that specific job. As a matter of fact, every person, however efficient he may be, cannot perform all the jobs efficiently. One has to carefully fit "the man to the job", and "the job to the man". The principle of 'right job to the right person' should be implemented. A worker may perform his task most efficiently provided it suits his inclination aptitude taste and capability.

    Characteristics or Features of Scientific Management

    1. Approach: It is a systematic, analytical and objective approach to solve industrial problems.
    2. Economy: The basis of scientific management is economy. For implementing economy, all the unnecessary elements of production are eliminated and a sincere effort is made to achieve optimum production at the minimum cost.
    3. A Definite plan: The main characteristic of scientific management is that before starting and work there must be a definite plan before as and the work is to be done strictly according to that plan.
    4. Discards old methods: It discards the age old methods of rule of thumb and hit or miss approaches.
    5. Emphasis: It lays emphasis on all factors of production, men, material and technology.
    6. Techniques: It implies scientific techniques in methods of work, recruitment, selection and training of workers.
    7. Attempts: It attempts to develop each man to his greatest efficiency and prosperities.
    8. Method: It attempts to discover the best method of doing a work at the cheapest cost.
    9. A definite Aim: Scientific management is the process of organizing, directing, conducting and controlling human activities. Hence there must be a definite aim before the managers, so that the human activities be organized directed conducted and controlled for achieving that aim or aims.
    10. Changes in attitude: It involves a complete change in the mental attitude of workers as well as the management.
    11. A Set of Rules: There must be a set of rules in accordance with the laid plan so that the objectives can be achieved. According to F.W. Taylor, it is no single element but rather the whole combination that constitutes the scientific management.

    Advantage of Scientific Management Theory

    1. It provides useful information on which to base improvement in working methods.
    2. It leads to increase in productivity.
    3. It stimulates the management into adopting a more positive role in leadership.
    4. It contributes to major improvement in physical working environment for the employees.
    5. It provides the foundation on which modern study and other quantative techniques could be soundly based.
    6. Decrease inaccuracy: It helps to decrease inaccuracy
    7. Benefits of management and works
    8. Decrease autocracy: It helps to decrease autocracy
    9. Piecework pay system: Payment depended on piecework basis which taken as an incentive to maximize productivity and produce high wages for the workers.
    10. Instant decision making: It helps to making decision instantly.
    11. Early working method and control: scientific management involves developing a management methodology, selecting and training employees, and supervising them closely.

    Disadvantage of Scientific Management Theory

    1. It reduces the workers role to that of rigid and adherences to methods and procedures over which the employees have no description.
    2. It leads to fragmentation of work on account of its emphasis on the analysis and organization of individual task or operations.
    3. It puts planning and control of the workplace activities exclusively in the hands of the management.
    4. It rules out any realistic bargaining of the wage rates since jobs are measured, timed and rated scientifically.
    5. Investment of huge capital: Scientific management is a costly system and a huge investment is required in establishment of planning dept., standardization, work study, training of workers.
    6. Probability of financial loss: lots of change to financial loss.
    7. Increasing the planning cost: Scientific management is a costly system and a huge investment is required in establishment of planning dept., standardization, work study, training of workers than others management systems.
    8. Lack of flexibility
    9. Monotonous: Due to excessive specialization the workers are not able to take initiative on their own.
    10. Fraud: There is chance to fraud activities
    11. Non democracy: there is weakening of trade union as everything is fixed & predetermined by management.
    12. Unemployment: Workers feel that management reduces employment opportunities from them through replacement of men by machines and by increasing human productivity fewer workers are needed to do work leading to chucking out from their jobs.
    13. Rapid flexible: scientific management drives the workers to rush towards output and finish work in standard time
    14. Over speeding - the scientific management lays standard output, time so they have to rush up and finish the work in time. These have adverse effect on health of workers.

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