Scientific Management and Human Relations Management Flashcards
What is scientific management/Taylorism?
A focus on rationality and rationalism: use of scientific reason and positivism, using logical argument and reasoning
The systematic analysis of jobs to find the best way to perform a task
What are the aims of scientific management?
- To create a more productive workforce
- Rewards would be available for productive employees
What are the characteristics of scientific management?
- Short, repetitive work cycles
- Detailed, prescribed task sequences
- Separation of task conception from task execution
- Motivation based on economic rewards
- Resulted in increased efficiency, predictability and control
- Clear division of tasks and responsibilities
- Set foundation for modern management
What is Fordism according to Clegg (1990)?
Rigid and deskilled jobs for the purposes of standardisation. Entails control, formality and hierarchy.
What are the criticisms of scientific management?
- Deskilling
- Focuses benefits of managers not workers
- Workers suffer through alienation and stress
- Inflexibility
- Work design was not able to respond to changes in customer demand
- Not as applicable to knowledge based jobs and service industry
What is the Human Relations Movement; a consequence of the criticisms of scientific management?
Focuses on issues such as employee motivation, leadership and communication inside a firm. These human relations are seen to be key to achieving organisational effectiveness and a focus on psychology and sociology
