Assignment 5 – Taylor, “The Principles of Scientific Management”
Taylor’s “The Principles of Scientific Management” begins to explore the methods used in creating an industry of workers that are used to build efficiency in the workforce. Taylor’s argument states that the nation’s industry has been inefficient due to the lack of management and growth of the worker. He expresses that a worker’s daily acts when not properly managed wastes the materials (and production) that create a strong industry. He believes that “systemic management” alleviates the lack of efficient industries and builds a strong workforce. In other words, this style of management should result in employer’s maximizing profitability and employee’s increasing their prosperity in all aspects, not just in monies.
Taylor mentions that the difficulties in achieving these goals for both employer and employee is the perception that each side does not believe that they can mutually attain their perspective goals. “Scientific Management” addresses this conflict and argues that both sides are actually one in the same. The main idea of scientific management is that the employer cannot see true success unless the employee prospers through the rewards of his labor, and vice versa. Both employer and employee through scientific management can prosper if they choose to mutually agree to benefit from each other. It is only then when both agree that you will see the highest grade of efficiency in labor and product.
Taylor mentions that one of the problems with achieving maximum efficiency in the workplace is defined in the term “Underworking” or “soldering”. He defines “soldiering” as minimum work effort produced or the smallest amount of effort in work by employee or employer which causes the lack of production. He attributes this to be common in the workforce due to three causes. One, if a man is able to be highly productive in his work, that he would eliminate others from obtaining work. Two, Bad management. And three, using the “rule of thumb” to maximize work effort. The combination of both “soldiering” and its’ three causes are what Taylor argues why maximum efficiency cannot be achieved. The elimination of “soldiering” and its’ causes according to Taylor should double production from both employer and employee. It is only until when it is eliminated that the theory of scientific management can be successful and both worker and employer can achieve mutual gains in the workforce.
I believe that the mutual agreement of both worker and employer sounds great and beneficial. In theory, it does sound perfect but I do not think that it would be able to co-exist in a capitalistic society. As long as the threat of competition exists and the gain of capital is the primary function of either the worker or the employer, the two forces cannot coexist. In the case of the market in this country, the top 1% would have to be willing to sacrifice its’ profits in order to balance the equation in Taylor’s theory. I hate to be the pessimist, but it sounds like a wonderful dream that cannot be turned into a reality during our life time.
