BCom Notes Part II Management Various techniques of Scientific Management

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Various techniques of Scientific Management

Describe the various techniques or elements of scientific management? Techniques or Elements of Scientific Management

In addition to the above principles and concepts. Taylor developed several techniques or elements, which provide the mechanism for implementing his principles. Some important of these techniques or elements may be listed as follows:

1. Time Study

Time study or work measurement is designed to establish the standard time required to carry out a job under specified conditions. It involves analysis of a job into its constituent elements and recording the time in performing each element. Taylor suggested the use of time study to lay down a fair day’s work so as to avoid guesswork and uncertainty in the effort and productivity expected of each worker.

2. Motion Study

It is systematic and critical study of the movements of both the worker and the machine so as to identify and eliminate unnecessary and wasteful movements, and decide on the best way of doing the job.

3. Standardization and Simplification

Under scientific management the third element of technique is to lay down the predetermined standards regarding the task, materials, equipment, method, time, quality and cost and working conditions standardization helps to simply work, ensure interchangeability to parts to ensure uniformity of operations and facilitate comparisons of efficiency.

4. Scientific Task Planning

It is the technique of forecasting and designing ahead or in advance every step in a long series of separate operations. Each step is to be taken in the right place of the right degree and at the right time. Each operation is to be performed at the optimum efficiency. Scientific task planning provides answer to the questions like what work is to be done, how is to be done, where it is to be done and when it is to be done. More efficient routing systems and works scheduling were developed for effective planning of work.

5. Functional Foremanship

According to Taylor one supervisor cannot be an expert in all aspects of work supervision. He suggested the system of functional foremanship in which eight supervisors supervise a worker’s job. Four of them i.e., route clerk, instruction card clerk, time and cost clerk and shop disciplinarian, are concerned with the planning of work in the factory office. And the other four, i.e., gang boss, speed boss, repair boss and inspector are involved in the execution of work at the shop flour.

6. Incentive, Wage Plan with Differential Piece Rate System

Taylor emphasized the need for scientific determination of remuneration for workers. For this purpose, he suggested that a direct link should be created between remuneration and productivity for motivating workers. In this connection, he developed the differential piece rate system of wage payment. Under this system, two piece rates are laid down – one, low rate for those who fail to achieve the standard output and the second higher rate for those who achieve or exceed the standard output.

7. Adoption of Exception Principle

Taylor recommended adoption of exception principles which means that the management reports should be condensed into comparative summaries giving in detail only the exception to the past standards or average – both the especially good and the especially had exceptions.