Scientific Management
Scientific management is a field that focuses on the optimal approaches to complete a task. Having a precise approach to accomplish a task that has been proven and tested makes it easier, more efficient, and boosts the productivity of the individual executing the activity.
Aligning Production with Incentives and Remuneration
Scientific management understands the importance of aligning production with the incentive and remuneration system. Because their efforts are rewarded, this boosts an employee's motivation and job happiness. All employees are compensated based on the amount of work completed.
Breaking Down Tasks
Scientific management entails breaking down a task into smaller components in order to determine the optimum strategy to complete the work. In modern management, techniques borrowed from Frederick Taylor's theory are used every day. For instance, the idea of division of labor equally among workers and managers is employed in many organizations. This technique builds up cooperation between employees and their managers and improves their formal relationships. Working independently to achieve a common objective creates a team spirit and enhances communication in modern organizations, resulting in improved performance and increased efficiency in doing the work.
Training and Reward Systems
Just like Taylor's scientific management insisted on training and educating workers so as to improve their skills, today's organizations have shown considerable effort and investment to put the labor force in the job training and even seminars. There is a need to continually train employees since the modern world is characterized by changing trends and patterns in the production industries.
Reward Systems
Techniques are phased out now and then, and the new ones are introduced instead, especially with the improvements in technology. In today's organizations, the human resource managers use reward systems that compensate employees based on their improved output and production. The rewards can be either monetary or non-monetary, with those deployed most often being fully paid vacations, scholarships, and paid leaves. This increases healthy competition among employees, thereby influencing the production levels positively. The recruitment process involves a series of steps in vetting the applicants. This serves to ensure that only the best person fit for the job is hired. This is just like the scientific selection of workers as proposed by Taylor. (Taylor, 2016)
Application of Scientific Management in Leadership
As a leader, I would apply scientific management to ensure that the human resource capital is used optimally without being exploited at the company's expense. This means that employees would be remunerated on an output basis, with the hardworking individuals earning more than the average ones. Underperforming employees would also be noted. Through proper selection of employees, there would be increased efficiency and productivity since the jobs would be done by the employees who are fit for the job. Specialization, which can also be attributed to scientific management, would ensure that individuals perform tasks they are better at. This improves the efficiency in production. As a manager, I would apply scientific management in the continuous training of the workforce for the ever-changing work environment; this would ensure that employees are equipped with the skills required to accomplish the organizational goals.
Continuous Application of Scientific Management
Scientific management principles have been continuously applied in the practices of modern organizations even though proposed a century ago. These policies have helped organizations succeed in an environment that is becoming competitive by the day.
Improved Productivity and Relationships
Scientific management has significantly improved productivity through enhancing quality control while at the same time improving relationships between the administration of firms and the employees through better personnel practices and increased employee incentives.
Reference
Taylor, F. W. (2016). The Principles of Scientific Management. New York: Cosimo Classics.
