Management in Ancient World
Management in Ancient World
Sumerian Civilization which flourished some 5000 years ago,
contained evidence of management practices.
As early as 4000 B.C. the Egyptians were aware of the
importance of planning, organizing and controlling.
One pyramid required 1,00,000 men working for 20 years,
covering 13 acres, using 2.3 million blocks, each weighing
an average of 2.5 tons.
Management in Ancient World
• The Romans who build a vast empire extending from Britain
in the west to Syria in the east rules it for many years only
because of their superior and advanced managerial
abilities.
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• 321 B.C in India, Kautilya’s Artshashtra indicates a major
political, social and economic management.
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• The study of administration of the cities of Mohenjodaro
and Harappa provides sufficient evidence about the use of
the principles of management.
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Management in Ancient World
• 20th Century, World War I created the
situation compiling people to think how to use
limited resources in optimum manner. World
War II witnessed growing competition and
complexity of managing large business
organizations.
Taylor (Frederick Winslow) 1856 –
1915
• Father of Scientific Management proved that
management could be studied and practiced as a
science to raise overall productivity of an
industrial unit.
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• Started working as machinist and rose to the
position of chief engineer after earning a degree
in engineering through evening study.
CONTD…………………….
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• His experience as an apprentice, labour, a
foreman, a master mechanic & then a chief
engineer of a steel company gave him ample
opportunity to know at firs hand problems,
attitude of workers and for improving the
quality of management.
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Tayler’s Principle of Scientific
Managmenet
• Work standards & practices could be established
through experimentation and observation.
• Managements duty to determine the kind of
work for which an employee was suitable.
• Supported internal promotion of employees.
• Cordial relation between managers and workers
is of great importance.
Contribution to
ScientificManagement
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• Contribution to Scientific Management
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• Time and Motion Study
• Workers put forth less efforts which results in limited
output and low productivity.
• Deliberately restricting the output is known as ‘soldiering’
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• Differential Payment
• Worker received low piece rate if he produced the standard
number of pieces and received high rate if he surpass the
standard.
Continued…………
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Recognization of supervision
Introduced two new successful concepts
Separation of planning
Functional foremanship
He suggested that the work should be planned by a foreman and
not the workers.
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• Scientific selection & training
• Workers should be placed on right jobs, appropriate training helps
to accept challenges and avail promotion opportunities.
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Contd….
• Cordial relations between management and
workers must prove that their prosperity is
dependent on each other. (mental revolution)
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Elton Mayo – Human Relations
Approach (1930 – 1950)
• Employees behavior is influenced by mental attitudes and
emotions.
• Human and social motivation plays greater role than
financial incentives.
• Special attention to workers by management helps in
raising productivity.
• Mayo pointed out that organization is a social system and
informal organization is reality.
• Successful human relations approach can create harmony,
higher employee satisfaction and great operation efficiency.
Phases of Tawthorne Experiments
Illumination Experiments (The intensity of light
was increased and decreased) surprisingly
productivity increased even when the level of
illumination was decreased. It was concluded
that factors other than light were important.
Contd…….
• Relay assembly Test Room Study – Six female
telephone relay assemblers were placed in
separate rooms. Changes were made in
working hours, rest period, lunch break time
to time. Output increased.
• It was concluded that social relationship
among workers had greater effect on
productivity rather than working conditions.
Mass Interviewing Programme
21000 employees were interviewed over a
period of time to find out reasons for
increased productivity. Concluded that if
workers are allowed to talk freely about
matters that are important to them
productivity increases.
Bank wiring observation Room
Experiment
A group of 14 male workers were put under
observation for a period of six months.
Concluded the group had established its own
standards of output and these standards were
implemented through social pressure.
• Elton Mayo – Human Relations Appraoch (1930 – 1950)
•
• Employees behavior is influenced by mental attitudes and
emotions.
• Human and social motivation plays greater role than
financial incentives.
• Special attention to workers by management helps in
raising productivity.
• Mayo pointed out that organization is a social system and
informal organization is reality.
• Successful human relations approach can create harmony,
higher employee satisfaction and great operation efficiency.