Taylorism consists of a industrial organization system developed by Frederick Taylor, US economist and mechanical engineer. The main objective of this technique is optimize the tasks performed in companies, through the organization and division of workers' functions.
Also known as Scientific Administration, the method developed by Taylor (1856 - 1915) was created in the late nineteenth century, and aims to increase operational efficiency in companies.
The basic ideas underlying Taylor's theory were published in the book Principles of Public Administration, in 1911, where he presented the work rationalization system - each process of this should be studied and developed as a science.
The creation of Taylorism is the result of the Second Industrial Revolution, with the emergence of electricity, the replacement of iron by steel, and the use of oil instead of steam as fuel.
Taylorism is based on five basic principles:
1 - The replacement of experience-based methods with scientifically tested methodologies;
2 - The selection and training of workers, in order to discover their best skills, which must be continuously improved;
3 - Continuous supervision of the work;
4 - The execution of tasks based on discipline and respect, in order to avoid waste;
5 - The fractioning of work on the assembly line.
Unlike the organizational systems applied so far, Taylorism differs because of the more specific functions of workers.
Another differential of this model is the positive motivation that the company gave its employees, that is, the higher the company's productivity, the higher the worker's salary. Until the nineteenth century, fear was the main "motivation" of the worker, who worked for fear of being fired.
Taylorism and Fordism
Like Taylorism, Fordism also consists of a system for organizing industrial production.
However, the main objective of the theory created by Henry Ford (1863 - 1947) was the construction of a mass production model, making the products cheaper and consumed by a greater number of people.
Unlike the bonus system that emerged with Taylorism, in Fordism the employee received little qualification and had no "rewards" for the company's productivity growth.
Learn more about Fordism.
Characteristics of Taylorism
- Achieving maximum production and yield, with minimum time and effort;
- Division of work tasks;
- Specialized worker;
- Investment in worker preparation and training, according to the skills presented;
- Prioritizes the reduction of employees' fatigue;
- Prioritizes the improvement of working conditions for employees;
- System of wage incentives and rewards in order to motivate workers to enhance their productivity;
- Application of previously tested, approved and planned working methods, thus dispensing with improvisation.
See also: meaning of Toyotism.
