Frederick Winslow Taylor
The following is an obituary from March 21, 1915, announcing the death of Frederick Winslow Taylor.
1 PHILADELPHIA, March 21: Frederick Winslow Tayler, originator of the modem scientific management movement, died here today from pneumonia. He was 59 years old, and was a former President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Among his numerous inventions and discoveries was the Taylor-White process of treating modem high-speed took. He was the author of articles on scientific efficiency. and installed his system in many large industrial establishments.
2 The writings and lectures of Frederic Winslow Taylor formed the basis of the recent reorganization of methods of handing labor in many of the largest industries in the country. The articles of Mr. Taylor on "Scientific Management" in 1911 had a good deal to do with giving its new, special meaning to the word "efficiency" and making it the watchword which it has become since that time.
3 One of his leading doctrines which has made a deep impression on business and industry in this country since that time is that a man who proves incompetent at one jab should be fitted in where he can give good service, instead of being discharged. His life work was chiefly devoted to the simplification of industrial processes to reduce costs and increase Outputs.
4 Mr. Taylor was born at Germantown, Philadelphia, on March 20, 1856, and was graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1883. He won the doubles championship of the United States at tennis at Newport in 1881. He entered the employ of the Midvale Steel Company at Philadelphia in 1878 and was successively gang boss, assistant foreman, foreman of the machine shop, master mechanic, chief draughtsman, and chief engineer.
5 In 1889 he began his special work of re-organizing the management of
What did Taylor believe should be done if an employee was not good at doing an assigned job?
- A. The employee should be fired.
- B. That job's duties should be reorganized.
- C. A job better suited to the employee should be found.
- D. The employee should be made to read Taylor's books and articles.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Taylor advocated for scientific management, emphasizing the importance of matching employees to jobs that fit their skills and abilities. Finding a job better suited to an employee (Option C) aligns with his belief in optimizing workforce efficiency and productivity. Option A, firing the employee, disregards the potential for growth and development. Option B, reorganizing job duties, may not address the root issue of skill mismatches. Option D, making the employee read Taylor's works, lacks practical application and does not directly resolve the employee's performance issues. Thus, aligning roles with individual strengths is key to achieving success.
Taylor advocated for scientific management, emphasizing the importance of matching employees to jobs that fit their skills and abilities. Finding a job better suited to an employee (Option C) aligns with his belief in optimizing workforce efficiency and productivity. Option A, firing the employee, disregards the potential for growth and development. Option B, reorganizing job duties, may not address the root issue of skill mismatches. Option D, making the employee read Taylor's works, lacks practical application and does not directly resolve the employee's performance issues. Thus, aligning roles with individual strengths is key to achieving success.
Other Related Questions
A drought strikes Toland and decreases the amount of fish caught from 8 units to 2 units. How will this change affect trade negotiations for the following year?
- A. The countries should maintain the existing agreement.
- B. Both countries should produce both goods.
- C. Toland should specialize in the production of timber.
- D. Toland should specialize in the production of fish.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
A decrease in fish catch due to drought shifts Toland's production capabilities. Specializing in timber (Option C) allows Toland to focus on a resource that can still be produced effectively, potentially increasing trade value. Maintaining the existing agreement (Option A) ignores the new realities of reduced fish availability, which could lead to imbalances. Producing both goods (Option B) may spread resources too thin, hindering efficiency. Specializing in fish (Option D) is unwise, as the drought has drastically reduced fish availability, making it impractical to rely on this sector.
A decrease in fish catch due to drought shifts Toland's production capabilities. Specializing in timber (Option C) allows Toland to focus on a resource that can still be produced effectively, potentially increasing trade value. Maintaining the existing agreement (Option A) ignores the new realities of reduced fish availability, which could lead to imbalances. Producing both goods (Option B) may spread resources too thin, hindering efficiency. Specializing in fish (Option D) is unwise, as the drought has drastically reduced fish availability, making it impractical to rely on this sector.
Which policy would be most effective to increase Grand Coast's comparative advantage over Toland?
- A. Raise taxes on factories and mills
- B. Encourage more workers to pursue fishing
- C. Maintain spending on infrastructure projects
- D. Improve technology used to produce timber
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Encouraging more workers to pursue fishing enhances Grand Coast's comparative advantage by capitalizing on its natural resources and existing industry strengths. This shift allows for specialization, leading to increased efficiency and production in fishing, where Grand Coast may already excel compared to Toland. Raising taxes on factories and mills (A) could deter investment and reduce manufacturing output, weakening economic competitiveness. Maintaining spending on infrastructure projects (C) may improve overall economic conditions but does not directly target enhancing comparative advantage. Improving technology for timber production (D) could be beneficial but may not align with Grand Coast's most advantageous industries compared to fishing.
Encouraging more workers to pursue fishing enhances Grand Coast's comparative advantage by capitalizing on its natural resources and existing industry strengths. This shift allows for specialization, leading to increased efficiency and production in fishing, where Grand Coast may already excel compared to Toland. Raising taxes on factories and mills (A) could deter investment and reduce manufacturing output, weakening economic competitiveness. Maintaining spending on infrastructure projects (C) may improve overall economic conditions but does not directly target enhancing comparative advantage. Improving technology for timber production (D) could be beneficial but may not align with Grand Coast's most advantageous industries compared to fishing.
Assume that the state of Kansas passed a law limiting the number of hours teenagers could work on farms, and the state's farmers challenged the law. The decision in which of these cases could be cited in support of Kansas's law?
- A. Commonwealth v. Hunt
- B. Muller v. Oregon
- C. Brown v. Board of Education
- D. Engel v. Vitale
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Muller v. Oregon upheld the state's ability to regulate working hours for women, emphasizing the government's role in protecting public welfare. This precedent supports Kansas's law limiting teenage work hours on farms, as it aligns with the principle of safeguarding minors' health and well-being. Commonwealth v. Hunt dealt with labor unions and the right to organize, which does not pertain to youth labor regulations. Brown v. Board of Education focused on desegregation in schools, irrelevant to labor laws. Engel v. Vitale addressed school prayer, having no connection to employment issues. Thus, only Muller v. Oregon directly supports the rationale for Kansas's law.
Muller v. Oregon upheld the state's ability to regulate working hours for women, emphasizing the government's role in protecting public welfare. This precedent supports Kansas's law limiting teenage work hours on farms, as it aligns with the principle of safeguarding minors' health and well-being. Commonwealth v. Hunt dealt with labor unions and the right to organize, which does not pertain to youth labor regulations. Brown v. Board of Education focused on desegregation in schools, irrelevant to labor laws. Engel v. Vitale addressed school prayer, having no connection to employment issues. Thus, only Muller v. Oregon directly supports the rationale for Kansas's law.
Based on the obituary, what type of jobs were the focus of Taylor's writings and lectures?
- A. Engineering
- B. Accounting
- C. Sales
- D. Manufacturing
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Taylor's writings and lectures primarily emphasized the principles of scientific management, which were focused on improving efficiency and productivity in manufacturing processes. His work aimed to optimize labor and streamline operations in factories, making manufacturing the central theme of his contributions. Option A (Engineering) is incorrect as Taylor's focus was not on engineering principles but rather on management practices within manufacturing. Option B (Accounting) does not align with Taylor's emphasis on operational efficiency, as his work did not primarily address financial management. Option C (Sales) is also wrong, as Taylor's theories were not directed toward sales strategies but rather on enhancing production methods in manufacturing settings.
Taylor's writings and lectures primarily emphasized the principles of scientific management, which were focused on improving efficiency and productivity in manufacturing processes. His work aimed to optimize labor and streamline operations in factories, making manufacturing the central theme of his contributions. Option A (Engineering) is incorrect as Taylor's focus was not on engineering principles but rather on management practices within manufacturing. Option B (Accounting) does not align with Taylor's emphasis on operational efficiency, as his work did not primarily address financial management. Option C (Sales) is also wrong, as Taylor's theories were not directed toward sales strategies but rather on enhancing production methods in manufacturing settings.