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It should be noted, given some replies, that this is a historical document and should probably not be taken as as a productivity "How-To" for any budding indust
by zwaps 6y ago
It should be noted, given some replies, that this is a historical document and should probably not be taken as as a productivity "How-To" for any budding industrialist.
In particular, the (empirical) answer and, for most, refutation of Taylor's scientific management tenets came relative soon - from the Hawthorne studies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_effect
which - among many other movements - led the diametrically opposed Human-Relations approach.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_relations_movement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_relations_movement
and, considering the wider area of management of economics, the "Carnegie school" approach led by scholars like March, Simon and Cyert - expanding upon the classical assumptions of profit maximization and rational actors in economics and management.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_School https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_School
Naturally, organization theory in sociology was similarly affected, where Scientific Management relates to a "Weberian" view of bureaucracy.
- itamarst 6y agoTaylor's most famous story (Schmidt and the pig iron) was... mostly made up. https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/1556350 https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/1556350 Hawthorne effect... was also made up. > But only five workers took part in the study, Dr. Ross said, and two were replaced partway through for gross insubordination and low output. > > A psychology professor at the University of Michigan, Dr. Richard Nisbett calls the Hawthorne effect ''a glorified anecdote.'' (https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/06/weekinreview/scientific-myths-that-are-too-good-to-die.html https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/06/weekinreview/scientific-m...) I learned both these facts from the highly entertaining "The Management Myth": https://mwstewart.com/books/the-management-myth/ https://mwstewart.com/books/the-management-myth/
- zwaps 6y agoYes and no. For example, the Hawthorne study did spark new opposed research movements that have since (obviously) produced a lot of original work. On the other hand, some economists have dug out the data from the Hawthorne studies and concluded that there's a small observational effect. The former point is obviously what I was indicating here.
- troelsSteegin 6y ago"Weberian bureaucracy" looks in principle to be benign and technocratic, idealizing government as a well run business. From a business perspective, the Carnegie School philosophy looks like the right mix to me. But, is there a prevailing model that supercedes March & Simon's "Organizations", from 60 years ago?