Which of the following are elements of Scientific Management?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Scientific Management (Taylorism) centers on designing work scientifically: breaking tasks into small, repeatable elements, standardizing methods, and assigning specialized roles so managers plan and workers execute.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Division of labour: work is analyzed and divided into simple, specialized tasks so each worker performs a narrow set of motions repeatedly.
- Standardization of tasks: best methods are determined (time-and-motion studies) and standardized procedures are imposed to maximize efficiency and predictability.
- Other Taylorist elements: scientific selection and training of workers, separation of planning (management) and execution (workers), and use of incentives. Management by objectives (MBO) is a later management approach; giving broad decision-making power to workers is contrary to Taylor’s emphasis on managerial control.

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- Examine each option and compare to core Taylorist principles.
- Option b states “Division of labour and standardization of tasks.” Both are direct, central tenets of Scientific Management.
- Option a combines “Micromanagement and management by objectives.” While close supervision might resemble micromanagement, MBO is not part of Taylorism (it’s a later participative goal-setting approach).
- Option c pairs “Standardization of tasks and decision-making power for employees.” Standardization is correct, but Taylorism concentrates decision-making with managers, not employees.
- Option d pairs “Micromanagement and decision-making power for employees,” a contradiction and not representative of Scientific Management.

3) Calculations/intermediate steps
- No numeric calculations required. Logical elimination based on definitions and historical origins is used.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- Scientific Management explicitly promotes division of labour (specialization of tasks) and standardization of work methods (through time-and-motion studies and procedural rules). These increase efficiency and are hallmark characteristics of Taylor’s approach.

5) Why other options are incorrect
- a: MBO is from Drucker and not part of Taylorism; “micromanagement” is informal and not a formal element.
- c: Grants decision-making power to employees, which contradicts Taylor’s separation of planning (management) and execution (workers).
- d: Combines supervision with employee autonomy — inconsistent and not aligned with Scientific Management’s managerial control.

Conclusion
Therefore, the correct choice is b. Division of labour and standardization of tasks, which matches the provided answer.

Which of the following are elements of Scientific Management?Single choice

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