Taylorism and the Scientifjc management model is still relevant - PDF document

Structural features Annotated Model Essay Communication features Taylorism and the Scientifjc management model is still relevant today. In what ways do you agree or disagree with this statement? INTRODUCTION Information presented from general (contextual) to specifjc (positional) with thesis statement at the end of the paragraph. Introductions may include; attention grabbing statement, background, defjnitions, introduction to key ideas, theories, research and thesis statement/statement of purpose. Introduction It is argued that for large-scale business enterprises, Attention-grabbing one of the great strengths of the Scientifjc Management statement model is that it rationalises and standardises production See Getting started methods which leads to signifjcant improvements in on your essay effjciency and productivity, and maximises profjts for Supporting an organisation. The Taylor approach incorporates information with more division of labour, predetermined methods of work, ‘While’ indicates qualifying defjnitions and details repetition of simple movement, minimum training statement and identifjcation of a problem requirements, fjnancial incentives and time optimisation (Caldari 2007). While the system has great capacity to be a source of economic success for employers Use of Referring verbs due to these technical effjciencies, a number of critics See Critical thinking including Marshall 1919, cited by Caldari 2007; Smith and analysis 1988, Greeves 1998 and Baker 2004) have pointed out that the model can lead to serious disadvantages for Harvard in-text citation employees. Hoxie (1916a) and Braverman (1974) See Referencing with accuracy have been critical of such Taylorist labour principles, claiming that it can lead to worker alienation and de-skilling Despite these criticisms, some academics Summary of and experts such as Locke (1982) and Huczynski and problem/controversy Use of complex sentences Buchanan (2013) argue that Scientifjc mangement and correct punctuation approaches continue to be relevant and effective in See Writing with accuracy certain business, industrial and manufacturing contexts, Thesis Statement such as high volume production. This essay will See Getting started on demonstrate the advantages of Taylorism for employers, your essay whilst also identifying key defjcits in the theory from the Linking back devices and ‘This’ + summary words perspective of the workforce. It will suggest that a fjrm’s operating context is an important determinant of success See Writing with clarity applying Scientifjc Management principles to work design, with quantity-focused manufacturing industries

best placed to benefjt from the approach. It will account Purpose Statement Thesis Statement for the structures, labour methods and motivation (The Routemap) One to three sentence techniques promoted by Taylor through analysis of See Getting started on your essay summary of your position specifjc examples of its application, whilst examining or argument and analysis numerous theories to support the thesis and explain the that is to follow continuing relevance of the methodology. Provides the reader with a guide to your argument There are a variety of contrasting defjnitions, Main Body interpretations evaluations of the scientifjc management Tests your ideas by Topic Sentence distilling them into one approach as an effective means of business operation. or two sentences In a broad sense, the fundamentals of Taylorism are based on a mechanistic perspective of the workforce Helps you stay focused and Link and signpost words and as a key part of the production machine (Smith, 1984). answer the question phrases help organise the fmow Weber’s (1947, cited by Huczynski & Buchanan 2013) of ideas in the paragraph Links directly to the bureaucracy theory implies Taylorism is management assignment question See Writing with clarity in its most effjcient form, as it is based on legitimate authority incorporating rationality. Burns’ contingency theory (1994) however, argues that organisations Paragraph theme: should be viewed more organically with greater value Descriptions and explanations attached to diversity, difference and initiative than of Taylorism and identifjcation Taylor considered necessary, and also outlines the of weaknesses The use of paraphrased importance of the environment within which the fjrm is sources to help identify a situated in making a decision to implement a scientifjc core weakness of Taylorism approach, for example a manufacturing fjrm versus See Critical thinking a design company. And while Weber’s bureaucratic and analysis Development of approach (1947, cited by Huczynski & Buchanan 2013), demonstrates that bureaucratic structures may Problem 1 + Link to next be benefjcial to employers as it is easier to control and paragraph topic predict worker outcomes, contingency theory shows that See Writing with clarity that there may be defjcits for employees and some may thrive in a more fmuid and organic structure, which allows for social interaction and the freedom to be creative. Taylorism does not account for these variances and therefore the approach may have an adverse impact on employees working in these types of business sectors. Taylorism has been widely critiqued by academics Topic sentence: such as Hoxie (1916a), and Braverman (1974). Taylor More detailed analysis With link to previous paragraph of Problem 1) with variety of advocates time-and-motion studies, which identify the supporting evidence ‘one-best-way’ to undertake a job in order to maximise (paraphrase, summary and effjciency (Koumparoulis & Solomos 2012). However, quote ), relevant to the thesis others argue the ‘one-best-way’ concept is fmawed, as Logical organisation of known the best way for one worker may not be so for another See Critical thinking and and new information analysis worker (Braverman 1974). Taylor would argue that to improve fmow of ideas if time-and-motion studies were taken on the worker See Writing with clarity performing the task, this would not be an issue for employers, and that they would then benefjt in terms

of effjciency and productivity. However, this scientifjc reductionist approach can result in a deskilling of the workforce, as workers are trained to execute the easiest, quickest and most effjcient method of work. This makes workers easier to control (Hoxie 1916a), and the need for more expensive skilled craftsmen diminishes, so clear cost benefjt accrues to employers (Hoxie 1916a). Despite this apparent benefjt, it can limit worker Use of hedging (can/may) scope for promotion as there are fewer opportunities to demonstrate higher capabilities (Marshall 1919, See Writing in academic style cited by Caldari 2007). Deskilling may also lead to job specialisation, which ‘deprives workers of thought, initiative and inventive genius’ (Hoxie 1916a: p.65), and this can result in creativity and fmexible-working issues. Thus, while rigid structures promoted by Taylor provide short-term technical effjciencies, they may cause long-term ineffjciencies as a fjrm’s fmexibility is limited (Marshall 1919, cited by Caldari 2007). Taylor would argue that effjciency benefjts are more important than being fmexible and having the capacity to deal with uncertain events, which by defjnition cannot be planned for. However, in industries prone to rapid change such as creative environments, Taylorism may be less applicable. Taylor’s view of labour as a tool that ‘could be engineered Topic sentence: to achieve effjciency’ (Koumparoulis & Solomos 2012: With link to previous paragraph p. 150) has been challenged by Lawrence (2010) and Marshall (1919, cited by Caldari 2007) who contend that while Taylorism may offer certain benefjts to employers, it may not lead to a dynamic, fmexible and creative workforce; traits now considered essential job skills for many 21st century business organisations. Taylor identifjed the issue of systematic soldiering within groups, which is the organised restriction of Argument and output by workers to prevent their employers knowing counter- argument with further criticism of Taylorism how fast they could work, in order to pursue their own (Weakness 2) with variety interests (Huczynski & Buchanan 2013). He considered of supporting evidence individualised work to be more advantageous to (paraphrase, summary employers because it removes the risk of systematic and quote ), relevant soldiering. It also prevents ‘group-think’ which involves to the thesis workers over-riding managerial direction and conforming See Critical thinking and to their team norms (Janis 1972, cited by Locke 1982), analysis and ‘social loafjng’ where some workers exert less effort than others in the team (Latané, Williams and Harkins Suitable use of formality 1979, cited by Locke 1982). However, individualised See Writing in academic work patterns can neglect the social aspect of style employment in which some workers may thrive, and this