The General Definition of Scientific Management (according to Labor)
"Organized labor understands by the term "scientific management" certain well defined efficiency systems which have been recently devised by individuals and small groups under the leadership and in imitation of men like Frederick W Taylor, HL Gantt and Harrington Emerson, by whom this term has been preempted. Organized labor makes a clear distinction between scientific management thus defined and science in management. It does not oppose savings of waste and increase of output resulting from improved machinery and truly efficient management. It stands therefore definitely committed to science in management and its objections are directed solely against systems devised by the so called "scientific management" cult."
"Scientific management
thus defined is a device employed for the purpose of increasing
production and profits and tends to eliminate consideration for the
character, rights and welfare of the employees. It looks upon the
worker as a mere instrument of production and reduces him to a semi
automatic attachment to the machine or tool. In spirit and essence
it is a cunningly devised speeding up and sweating system which
puts a premium upon muscle and speed rather than brains, forces
individuals to become rushers and speeders, stimulates and drives
the workers up to the limit of nervous and physical exhaustion and
over speeds and over strains them, shows a constant tendency to
increase the intensity and extent of the task, tends to displace
all but the fastest workers, indicates a purpose to extract the
last ounce of energy from the workers, and holds that if the task
can be performed it is not too great."
Excerpted from
Scientific Management and Labor by Robert Franklin
Hoxie,
D. Appleton and Company, New York and London, 1915 -
T58H63
