The Principles of Scientific Management

First published in 1911, “The Principles of Scientific Management” by the American mechanical engineer and efficiency expert Frederick Winslow Taylor, is the highly influential study on industrial organization and management theory. Taylor is often referred to as the “Father of Scientific Management” and his approach to decision-making and management to optimize efficiency is often referred to as “Taylor’s Principles”, or “Taylorism”. The impact on the field of business strategy of Taylor’s work is undeniable and his legacy continues to inform and guide the study of industrial engineering and management methods. Taylor argued that the application of scientific principles and research methods to coordinate industrial enterprise would create a system that all parties could benefit from, including the employer, the worker, and society at large. The goal of Taylor’s approach was to secure both the maximum prosperity for both the owner and for each employee by using proper scientific training methods that focused on developing individual skill to its greatest effect. Taylor also encouraged the use of incentive programs to motivate increased effort and efficiency. “The Principles of Scientific Management” remains a truly lasting and important work of management science over a century after it was first published. This edition includes a biographical afterword.