Understanding Scientific Management (Q & A)
CBSE Class 12 - Business Studies
Chapter 2 - Principles of Management
Q1: What is Taylor's Scientific Management?
Answer: F.W. Taylor (1856-1915) was an American mechanical engineer who believed in analyzing the work scientifically and finds one best way to do any work. His book Principles of Scientific Management was published in 1911.
Taylor conducted a number of experiments and came to the conclusion that workers were producing much less than the targeted standard task.
Also, both the parties - Management and workers are hostile towards each other. He gave a number of suggestions to solve this problem and correctly propounded the theory of Scientific Management to emphasize the use of the scientific approach in managing an enterprise instead of hit and trial method.
For his contributions, he is well known as the “Father of the Scientific Management”.
Q2: What is Scientific Management?
Answer: Scientific Management is a way to conduct business activities according to standardised tools, methods and trained personal so as to have increased output through effective and optimum utilisation of resources. Hence it stresses that there is always one best way of doing things.
Scientific Management attempts to eliminate wastes to ensure maximum production at minimum cost.
OR
(Very Short Answer) Application of a scientific approach to managerial decision making.
Q3: List the principles of scientific management.
Answer: (Short Answer): Principles of Scientific Management :
(a) Science not the rule of thumb
(b) Harmony not discord
(c) Cooperation, not individualism
(d) Development of each person to the greatest efficiency.
Answer (Long Answer):
1. Science, not the Rule of Thumb:
There should be scientific study and analysis of each element of a job rather than using intuition, experience or adopting an old rule of thumb approach on a hit and miss method. Encourage “thinking before doing” and determining standard output.
2. Harmony, not discord:
There should be complete harmony and proper understanding between management and workers in achieving the organisation goals. For this, he emphasised mental revolution i.e., a complete change in mental outlook and attitude of workers and management towards one another from competition
to cooperation. The management should create pleasant working conditions and workers should work with full loyalty. Instead of fighting over the distribution
of profits, they must focus attention on increasing it.
3. Cooperation, not individualism:
Taylor emphasised on the importance of cooperative group efforts between the management and workers in achieving the organisation’s goal and not individualism. Both should realise that they need each other.
4. Development of workers to their greatest efficiency and prosperity:
The management should scientifically select the workers; assign job as per their physical, mental and intellectual capabilities; and train them as per the
job requirement to increase their efficiency.
Q4: List the techniques of scientific management.
Answer:
a) Functional foremanship
b) Standardisation and simplification of work
c) Method study
d) Motion study
e) Time study
f) Fatigue Study
g) Differential Piece wage system
h) Mental Revolution
Q5: Explain the techniques of scientific management in detail.
Answer:
a) Functional foremanship
- Supervision is to be divided into several specialized functions and each function to be entrusted to a special foreman.
- Each worker will have to take orders from eight foremen in the related process of a function of production.
- Stress on separating planning function from the executive function.
b) Standardisation and simplification of work
- Process of setting standards for every business activity to maximise output.
- Simplification is eliminating unnecessary varieties, sizes and grades of product manufactured in the organisation.
c) Method study
- Finding one best way of doing a job.
- A critical analysis is made for plant layout, product design, material handling and work processes using techniques like process charts, operations research etc.
d) Motion study
- Making a thorough analysis of various motions being performed by a worker while doing a particular task.
- Identifying and determining the ideal productive movement.
- Eliminate the unproductive movements and equipment.
e) Time study
- It is the technique used to determine the standard time taken by the workman with reasonable skill and ability to perform a particular task.
- Here the job is divided into a series of elements and the time required to complete each element idealistically is recorded using a stop watch.
f) Fatigue Study
- Determines the amount and frequency of rest intervals required in completing a task.
g) Differential Piece wage system
- Evolve a system wherein the efficient and inefficient workers are paid at different rates, as financial incentives act as motivators.
- First, a standard task is established with the aid of time and motion study, then two rates are established. Higher when standard outputs are produced and lower when the standard is not met.
h) Mental Revolution
- It involves a complete change in mental outlook and attitude of workers and management towards one another from competition to cooperation.
- The management should create pleasant working conditions & workers should work with devotion and loyalty. Instead of fighting over the distribution of profits, they must focus attention on increasing it.
Q6: What is the aim of Method study?
Answer: Aim is to find one best method of doing the job.
Q7: What is the aim of doing motion study?
Answer: The aim of this study is to eliminate unnecessary movements so as to ensure timely completion of work.
Q8: What is the purpose of time study?
Answer: To estimate/ determine a fair day’s work.
Q9: Explain the objectives of standardization.
Answer: Standardisation is done for the following reasons:
- To ensure that a given product range has fixed types, sizes, characteristics etc.
- To bring about interchangeability, for manufactured parts, output, developments etc. among various branches.
- To set uniform standards of performance for men, machines etc.
Q10: Which technique of Taylor suggests that each worker should be supervised by specialists? Give the designations of any four specialists suggested by him.
Answer: The technique of functional foremanship suggests that each worker should be supervised by specialists. These specialists' designations follow.
(i) Instruction Card Clerk
(ii) Route Clerk
(iii) Time and Cost Clerk
(iv) Disciplinarian
Q11: Explain the technique 'Functional Foremanship'.
Answer: Functional foremanship is the extension of the principle of specialization. This technique emphasises the separation of planning from execution. To facilitate it, Taylor suggested setting up of "planning in charge" and "production in charge".
FUNCTIONAL FOREMANSHIP
Planning Incharge:
The main function of "planning in charge" is to plan all aspects of a job to be performed. It consists of four positions:
(i) Route clerk: He determines the sequence to perform various mechanical and manual operations.
(ii) Instruction card clerk: He issues instructions to the workers to be followed by them.
(iii) Time and cost clerk: He is concerned with the framing of a time schedule on the basis of a determined route. Also, he keeps the record of the cost of operations.
(iv) Disciplinarian: He is concerned with the coordination in each job from planning to successful execution. He enforces rules and regulations and maintains discipline.
Production Incharge:
It consists of the following four specialists who are concerned with the execution of plans.
(i) Speed Boss: He checks whether work is progressing as per schedule. He ensures timely and accurate completion of jobs.
(ii) Gang Boss: He arranges machines, materials, tools, and equipment properly so that workers can proceed with their work.
(iii) Repair Boss: He ensures that all machines, tools, equipment are in perfect working order.
Inspector:
He ensures that the work is done as per the standards of quality set by the planning department.
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