Introduction
Modern management techniques owe a great deal to the ideas presented in Scientific Management, commonly known as Taylorism (Merkle, 2022). Ford Motor Company’s adoption of Scientific Management ideas in the early 20th century influenced employment policies, work procedures, managerial judgments, and societal norms (Cullinane & Cushen, 2019). This study investigates how Scientific Management has affected these four facets of Ford Motor Company. The research will examine the pros and cons of Scientific Management in terms of organizational structures, methods of production, managerial judgments, and repercussions on society at large. Insight into the strengths and weaknesses of Scientific Management as a corporate practice, as well as avenues for future study and development, will be gained through this investigation. The lessons learned through analyzing the results of Scientific Management at Ford Motor Company may be used to improve many other types of businesses.
Impact on Employment Practices
Overview of Scientific Management’s Impact on Employment Practices
Scientific management had both positive and negative effects on employment practices. According to Tomac, Radonja & Bonato (2019), Piece-rate pay, which compensated employees depending on the quantity of labor they did, encouraged employees to work quicker and more efficiently, benefitting both the organization and the employees. Also, according to Tomac, Radonja & Bonato (2019), time and motion studies were used to identify work processes and find inefficiencies that could be removed to improve productivity. The development of the assembly line allowed automobile manufacturing to be divided into smaller jobs, with each worker performing a specialized duty, resulting in speedier manufacturing and decreased time needed to build an automobile. However, the influence of Scientific Management on employment practices could have been more favorable; some employees reported poor job satisfaction and high turnover rates due to the monotony of their specialized responsibilities Tomac, Radonja & Bonato (2019).
Examples of Employment Practices at Ford Influenced by Scientific Management
According to Chen et al. (2020), Ford Motor Company significantly impacted their employment practices with Scientific Management. They introduced piece-rate wages to motivate workers to work faster and increase productivity, benefiting both the company and the workers. The company also used time and motion studies to optimize work processes, reducing inefficiencies such as the time it took to change a tire on an assembly line. Additionally, the assembly line enabled the production of cars to be broken down into smaller tasks, with each worker performing a specific function (Chen et al., 2020).
Examining the Impacts on Employment Practices
The impact of Scientific Management on employment practices at Ford Motor Company was positive and negative. According to Kraiger and Ford (2021), on the positive side, job specialization increased productivity and efficiency, while standardized procedures and methods reduced errors and improved quality control. Piece-rate wages also motivated workers to work faster and increase productivity. Conversely, job specialization could lead to boredom and monotony for employees, resulting in low job gratification and high turnover rates. Standardization could also smother originality and novelty, leading to a need for more flexibility in changing market environments. Also, the introduction of piece-rate wages could lead to manipulation and partial treatment of employees (Kraiger & Ford, 2021).
Impact on Work Processes
Overview of Scientific Management’s Impact on work processes
As Kraiger and Ford (2021) argue, scientific management sought to improve work processes by breaking them down into smaller and simpler components, which were standardized and optimized to improve efficiency. The use of Scientific Management at Ford Motor Company significantly influenced labor operations. This strategy yielded innovative processes and technology that boosted efficiency and production while lowering costs. Managers are encouraged by scientific management to examine work processes, uncover inefficiencies, and make changes to improve work processes (Kraiger & Ford, 2021).
Specific Examples of Work Processes Influenced by Scientific Management at Ford
Kraiger and Ford (2021) argue that scientific management significantly impacted work processes at Ford Motor Company. The assembly line is one of the most significant examples. Since every worker on the assembly line had a specific job, the production time was cut significantly. Time and motion studies can improve workflows and weed out inefficiencies. This method has enabled the company to do so (Kraiger & Ford, 2021).
Analysis of the Positive and Negative Impact on Work Processes
Kraiger and Ford (2021) further argue that the influence of Scientific Management on Ford Motor Company’s work procedures was mixed. On the positive side, implementing Scientific Management resulted in considerable advances in efficiency and production, enabling Ford to make more vehicles at a cheaper cost. For example, the assembly line helped Ford produce automobiles considerably quicker, increasing revenues. Furthermore, piloting time and motion studies assisted in identifying and eliminating inefficiencies in labor processes (Kraiger & Ford, 2021).
On the other hand, Kraiger and Ford (2021) affirm that applying Scientific Management has a detrimental influence on work processes. Employees often had to do repetitive and tedious tasks, which caused low morale and dissatisfaction with work. This could lead to high turnover and decreased productivity in the long run. Additionally, focusing on efficiency could make people feel like robots instead of humans, creating tension between labor and management (Kraiger & Ford, 2021).
Impact on Management Decisions
Overview of Scientific Management’s Impact on Management Decisions
According to Latypov, Chumak, and Yadransky (2020), scientific management, emphasizing efficiency and production, greatly affected Ford Motor Company’s management choices. The use of time and motion studies resulted in the creation of standard operating procedures and practices, which reduced variability in work operations. Managers might then make choices based on data-driven insights rather than intuition or guesswork. The scientific management concepts also advocated a top-down management style, with higher management passing decisions down to lower levels. Because of this hierarchical structure, the company’s centralized decision-making prioritized efficiency and production above worker autonomy and engagement (Latypov, Chumak, & Yadransky, 2020).
Specific Examples of Ford Management Decisions
Latypov, Chumak, & Yadransky (2020) argues that scientific management impacted many management choices at Ford, including the invention of the assembly line. The assembly line was created to boost efficiency by breaking down the manufacturing process into smaller, repetitive jobs that could be performed by less-skilled personnel. This enabled Ford to make vehicles quicker and cheaper than rivals, making automobiles more accessible to the ordinary person. Furthermore, time studies allow managers to discover the most effective method to do each activity, resulting in the standardization of work procedures and eliminating needless moves. This, in turn, resulted in lower labor expenses and higher production (Latypov, Chumak, & Yadransky, 2020).
An Analysis of the Positive and Negative Impacts on Management Decisions
As Latypov, Chumak, & Yadransky (2020), at Ford, Scientific Management’s impact on management choices was primarily favorable, as it enabled managers to make data-driven decisions, resulting in enhanced productivity and efficiency. On the other hand, the company’s reliance on a few managers to make all the tough decisions could have improved morale and productivity and contributed to a high turnover rate. Furthermore, prioritizing productivity and efficiency caused numerous accidents (Latypov, Chumak, & Yadransky, 2020).
Societal Impact
Overview of Scientific Management’s Impact on Society
According to Cruz and Suarez-Paba (2019), there have been good and bad results from implementing Scientific Management, making its effect on society complicated. On the one hand, implementing Scientific Management concepts in the manufacturing and production sectors led to dramatic improvements in effectiveness, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. This resulted in widespread manufacturing, which lowered prices for consumers. The manufacturing process reduced employees to interchangeable parts, dehumanizing them and disregarding their wants and skills (Cruz & Suarez-Paba, 2019).
Specific Examples of Societal Impact at Ford Influenced by Scientific Management
According to Tomac, Radonja, & Bonato (2019), at Ford Motor Company, scientific management revolutionized manufacturing and brought automobiles within reach of middle-class families. The assembly line made assembling goods cheaper, and buyers benefited from the savings. As a result, more individuals could afford automobiles as demand rose. However, the development of the vehicle sector that served the growing auto market has had severe adverse effects on the environment, including increasing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (Tomac, Radonja, & Bonato, 2019).
Analysis of the Positive and Negative Societal Impact
As Tomac, Radonja, & Bonato (2019) argue, scientific management has beneficial and harmful effects on society. On the positive side, it boosted production, reduced costs, and made more products available to the general public. Conversely, it contributed to problems like worker dehumanization, ecological deterioration, and broadening societal discrepancies. Since then, other segments, including healthcare, education, and government, have embraced scientific management’s tenets with predictable outcomes. Hence, distinguishing the benefits and negatives of scientific management is crucial for making future long-term, socially responsible decisions (Tomac, Radonja,& Bonato, 2019).
Conclusion
The impact of Scientific Management on employment practices, work processes, management decisions, and society was significant, complex, and far-reaching. While it increased efficiency, productivity, and affordability, it also had negative consequences, such as worker dehumanization, environmental degradation, and social inequality. Ford Motor Company’s adoption of Scientific Management was a prime example of its impact. Despite its drawbacks, Scientific Management remains a fundamental approach to management and has laid the foundation for modern management practices. Therefore, organizations and policymakers must recognize its limitations and work towards addressing its negative consequences while harnessing its benefits.
References
Chen, H., Richard, O. C., Boncoeur, O. D., & Ford Jr, D. L. (2020). Work engagement, emotional exhaustion, and counterproductive work behavior. Journal of Business Research, 114, 30-41.
Cruz, A. M., & Suarez-Paba, M. C. (2019). Advances in Natech research: An overview. Progress in Disaster Science, 1, 100013.
Cullinane, N., & Cushen, J. (2019). Applying Scientific Management to modern employment relations and HRM. Elgar Introduction to Theories of Human Resources and Employment Relations, pp. 53–66.
Kraiger, K., & Ford, J. K. (2021). The science of workplace instruction: Learning and development applied to work. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 8, 45-72.
Latypov, R., Chumak, E., & Yadransky, D. (2020). Creative management decision drivers on sustainable development. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 208, p. 03013). EDP Sciences.
Merkle, J. A. (2022). Management and Ideology: The Legacy of the international scientific management movement. Univ of California Press.
Tomac, N., Radonja, R., & Bonato, J. (2019). Analysis of Henry Ford’s contribution to production and management. Pomorstvo, 33(1), 33-45.
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