History of Management Thought
Lecture #3
Schools of Management Thought
Schools of Management Thought
Classical School
Behavioral School
Management Science School
Classical School
“One best way to manage”
It is management’s job to ascertain the best
way to perform a job, then teach that
method to workers. The same philosophy
applies to running the organization
(the manager’s job)
Scientific Management
The Scientific Method applied to work
Scientific Management
Observation
Measurement
Logic
Analysis
Frederick Taylor
The “Father of Scientific Management”
Taylor & Scientific Management
Experiment in Iron Foundry
Shoveling Coal
Taylor & Shoveling Coal
Standard Operating Procedure:
Hire the man with the
shovel
Taylor & Shoveling Coal
New Idea: Use standardized shovels!!!
Taylor & Shoveling Coal
Optimal shovel size for the average worker:
21 ½ pounds
Loading Pig Iron
Intermediate product in the processing of
iron ore into steel
Taylor & Loading Pig Iron
Before: Average load of 12 ½ tons per day
After: Average load of _____ tons per day
Wages increased ____%
Taylor & Loading Pig Iron
Productivity gain for company
More money for worker
Worker was less fatigued at end of day
Scientific Management
Frank & Lillian Gilbreth
Motion & Time Studies
Therbligs
Gilbreths
Brick-laying
Gilbreths
Cheaper By the Dozen
World War I telegram to President Wilson:
Arriving Washington 7:03 pm. If you don’t
know how to use me, I’ll tell you.
Scientific Management
Application of the Scientific Method to
work
Selection of the most capable workers
Provide resources to workers
Scientific Management
Train the workers
Provide fair pay incentives to workers
(share productivity gains)
Scientific Management:
Bastardized Version
Application of the Scientific Method to
work
Selection of the most capable workers
Provide resources to workers
Train the workers
Behavioral School
aka Human Relations School
Genesis was in an experiment in
Scientific Management
Behavioral School
Western Electric Hawthorne plant in
Cicero, Illinois
Hawthorne Studies
Hawthorne Studies
Experiment in lighting conditions
Experimental group
Control group
Hawthorne Studies
(storybook version)
Increased lighting associated with
increased productivity!!
Decreased lighting associated with
_________ productivity??
Who ya’ gonna call?
Hawthorne Studies
Elton Mayo
Researcher from Harvard
Workers were not reacting to the changes in
lighting
Hawthorne Studies
Workers were not reacting to the conditions
of the experiment
Workers were reacting to being in an
experiment
“Hawthorne Effect”
Classical vs. Behavioral
Two diametrically opposed views
Which view do you hold?
Management Science School
Management Science is NOT the same as
Scientific Management
Originated in the Polaris missile project
Management Science
A problem is defined, and a model of the
situation is developed
The model simplifies reality or represents
reality in an abstract manner
Management Science
Step One:
Develop a model of the
problem or situation
Step Two:
Quantify the variables
Management Science
A politically incorrect example
Management Science
No underage!
No drink and drive!