Scientific management

Hindy Lauer Schachter

Chapter 136 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Historical Organisation Studies, 2026, pp 484-488 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This article examines Frederick Taylor's theory of scientific management. It describes the theory's characteristics and explains the identity of its adherents and opponents in the early twentieth century. In addition, the article gives successful and unsuccessful examples of attempts to implement scientific management in public and private organisations. Because some commentators have labelled scientific management as authoritarian and anti-union, the article details the positive interwar relations between Taylor Society members and labour unions.

Keywords: Frederick Winslow Taylor; Shop management; Time and motion studies; Taylor Society; Worker management cooperation; Efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035332922
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