Scientific Management

Scientific management (Taylorism) originated in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century. Its emergence is closely linked to the management studies, engineering innovations, and business consultancy work of Frederick W. Taylor (1854–1915). On the one hand its contemporary relevance for organization sociology, sociopsychological studies of work, and organizational economics rests with its historic significance. Many regard Taylor as the founding father of management studies and scientific management as the first modern theory of management and organization. On the other hand, scientific management remains an integral part of contemporary concepts on how to organize in industrial settings. Scientific management sets out, in various respects, conceptual roots of contemporary organization theory. This is not to say that Taylor did not fall for certain misunderstandings when he proposed scientific management: His description of workers as “born lazy” but managers as morally high‐minded was found insulting by many.