Management History
Modern managers use many of the practices, principles, and techniques developed from
earlier concepts and experiences. The Industrial Revolution brought about the emergence
of large-scale business and its need for professional managers. Early military and church
organizations provided the leadership models.
In 1975, Raymond E. Miles wrote Theories of Management: Implications for
Organizational Behavior and Development published by McGraw Hill Text. In it, he
popularized a useful model of the evolution of management theory in the United States.
His model includes classical, human relations, and human resources management.
Classical School
The Classical school of thought began around 1900 and continued into the 1920s.
Traditional or classical management focuses on efficiency and includes bureaucratic,
scientific and administrative management. Bureaucratic management relies on a rational
set of structuring guidelines, such as rules and procedures, hierarchy, and a clear division
of labor. Scientific management focuses on the “one best way” to do a job. Administrative
management emphasizes the flow of information in the operation of the organization.
Bureaucracy
Max Weber (1864-1920), known as the Father of Modern Sociology, analyzed bureaucracy
as the most logical and rational structure for large organziations. Bureaucracies are
founded on legal or rational authority which is based on law, procedures, rules, and so on.
Positional authority of a superior over a subordinate stems from legal authority.
Charismatic authority stems from the personal qualities of an individual. Efficiency in
bureaucracies comes from: (1.) clearly defined and specialized functions; (2.) use of legal
authority; (3.) hierarchical form; (4.) written rules and procedures; (5.) technically trained
bureaucrats; (6.) appointment to positions based on technical expertise; (7.) promotions
based on competence; (8.) clearly defined career paths.
Scientific Management
Scientific management focuses on worker and machine relationships. Organizational
productivity can be increased by increasing the efficiency of production processes. The
efficiency perspective is concerned with creating jobs that economize on time, human
energy, and other productive resources. Jobs are designed so that each worker has a
specified, well controlled task that can be performed as instructed. Specific procedures and
methods for each job must be followed with no exceptions.
Frederick Taylor (1856-1915)
Many of Frederick Taylors definitive studies were performed at Bethlehem Steel Company
in Pittsburgh. To improve productivity, Taylor examined the time and motion details of a
job, developed a better method for performing that job, and trained the worker.
Furthermore, Taylor offered a piece rate that increased as workers produced more.
In 1911, Frederick Taylor, known as the Father of Scientific Management, published
Principles of Scientific Management in which he proposed work methods designed to
