Academic Essay
The classical management perspective represents the first well-developed framework of
management (Davidson. P. et al, 2000). It the framework from which later theories evolved
and concerns efficiency and productivity, which in turn leads to effective and efficient
management. Scientific management and the Administrative theory are both classical
management theories, which provide information on managing in the workplace, which are
very useful and vital to have in the workplace. These theories are very different in many
ways as they both have different purposes when managing in the workplace although there
are one or two similarities, which illustrate its importance in the workplace. Both these
theories contribute greatly to the understanding of management in many ways and can
impact on contemporary management practices. The following analysis will further
explain the classical management theories, which are scientific management, and the
administrative theory. In analysing scientific management and the administrative theory
one gains a greater knowledge of management and how it contributes to the workplace. It
will then go onto comparing and contrasting the two theories and how they contribute to
the understanding of management. And finally it will go into the importance, if any, for
contemporary management practices. Through scientific management and the
administrative theory one is able to understand management in the workplace and the
importance of the theories.
According to Davidson. P. et al. “Scientific management is a series of approaches aimed at
improving the performance of individual workers through the use of analytical procedures
to lift workplace efficiency”“. The system was developed by Fredrick Taylor (1856-1915),
in hope of providing the workplace with greater productivity and efficiency, which in turn
gave individuals a greater understanding of management. Fredrick Taylor defined his
theory as the one best way for a job to be done”“ (Robins. S. et al, 2006). Scientific
management brought many improvements to productivity, which was much needed and
impressive. Highly repetitive jobs were re-designed, with remarkable increases in output,
which contributed to the workplace greatly (Davidson. P. et al, 2000). Taylor production
methods helped create the foundation for improved manufacturing efficiency, greater
profits and higher wages (Parayitam. S, 2002). Scientific management eliminated, waste in
human energy, waste in equipment, waste in machine power, and instead evolved into an
extended planning department so better appliances, improved programs of work and
recording of individual work can be introduced (Nyland. C, 2000). Taylor achieved
improvements in productivity of 200 per cent or more (Smiths. A, 2000). Taylor stated,
