Doug writes (replying to LO20619) --
Earlier, from LO20619)...
>>These coercive and exploitive management practices are the features of
>>Frederick W. Taylor's "scientific management," dating from the 1890s.
>>These practices have impeded the spread of "scientific method" (from
>>Deming, Juran, and other quality gurus, with their call for
>>"truth-seeking, hypothesis-testing, management-by-fact, use of SPC, use
>>of the Shehart/Deming cycle of plan-do-check-act, PDCA) as a replacement
>>for "scientific management."
Then, from Doug...
>That seems to be a little harsh on old Fred. I thought Taylor's efforts
>were focused on applying a conscious discipline to finding and deploying
>(teaching the workers) the most efficient, effective and least fatiquing
>production method in a somewhat static, physical production enviornment
>(e.g., what is the most efficient and effective way to shovel?). If
>anything, I'd think Taylor's "Scientific Management" was sort of an "Old
>Testament" form of Learning Organization. I wouldn't attribute the many
>evils under the guise of Taylorism to Taylor any more than I'd attribute
>the many evils done under the guise of Christianity to Christ.
I will happily echo and endorse Doug's comments. No one takes more of a
"bum rap" than Frederick Winslow Taylor. Please don't take this to mean
that Taylor was without his flaws. Like us all, he had his share.
However, the accusations most frequently leveled against him are, for the
most part, absolutely groundless. If you haven't read Taylor's books
(Shop Management and Scientific Management) I encourage you to do so. If
you haven't read his testimony before Congress, I encourage you to do so.
If you haven't read all the many things Peter Drucker has had to say about
Fred Taylor (almost without fail these are positive acknowledgements of
Taylor's many contributions to the advancement of management), I encourage
you to do so. And, if you haven't read Robert Kanigel's 1997 biography of
Taylor ("The One Best Way") I encourage you to do so. Kanigel's biography
is the best of the lot -- and I've read them all. As a matter of fact,
I've been studying Taylor and his work for almost 30 years, ever since I
read a comment by Peter Drucker to the effect that those who criticize
Taylor are usually unfamiliar with his work. Being guilty of that charge
at the time I set about remedying my shortcoming. It has been quite an
education. I've learned more about work from studying Taylor's work than
any other source. On the other hand, I would not recommend Taylor as a
source to study for the purpose of learning how to manage people at work.
Regards,
Fred Nickols
Distance Consulting
http://home.att.net/~nickols/distance.htm
nickols@worldnet.att.net
(609) 490-0095
--Fred Nickols <nickols@worldnet.att.net>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>