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(1) The article that we will analyze in this paper is named From Mechanical Engineering to Re-engineering: Would Taylor be Pleased with Modern Management? by Daniel Martin. It can be found in Journal of Management History, 1995 Volume: Issue 1, on pages 38 51. (2) In his article, author strives to find common elements between Frederick Taylors method of Scientific Management and the modern theory of Total Quality Management (TQM). Therefore, we can refer to articles name as such that corresponds to the very essence of issues raised in it. We can also say that it is quite possible to get an idea of what Martins article is all about, by reading articles foreword, in which author clearly defines the semantic properties of his work: Effort is made to determine how much of the divergence between scientific management and TQM constitutes true disagreement, and how much reflects the different environments in which the two systems were being applied (Martin, p. 39). (3) It appears that, during the course of his research, Daniel Martin relied on deductive method of analysis.
In other words, author strives to help readers to understand the essence of both Scientific Management and Total Quality Management, in order for them to be able to figure out which method suits every particular working environment the best. Author was able to substantiate the validity of his conclusions by referring to the ideas, expressed by variety of different authors, which seem to confirm the soundness of Martins main thesis. The bibliographical referral, at the end of an article, lists 42 different sources. At the same time, article does not provide us with any objective data (statistical, qualitative or quantitative), which would validate authors point.
In its turn, this undermines articles overall objectivity. (4) In his article, Martin argues that, even though Scientific Management appears only to be concerned with providing preconditions for the improvement of manufacturing efficiency, as its main priority, we can also look at it as ideological foundation, upon which modern theories of workers empowerment are based: Specifically, both (Scientific Management and TQM) were attempting to empower the workers by improving their techniques of work. Taylor had reasonable cause to believe, however, that the workers were not yet capable of meaningful participation in improving their own lot (Martin, p. 48). Thus, Martin views TQM as such that actually derives out of Taylors concept of management. (5) The novelty of Martins thesis consist in the fact that he does not view Taylors theory and TQM as such that have essentially opposite properties, as it is being assumed by the majority of management theorists, up until now. Author suggests that, within a context of Industrial era, Taylors approach to management was absolutely appropriate.
The reason why Taylor never incorporated the notion of customers satisfaction into his theory of Scientific Management is that the concept of marketing simply did not exist, at the time when he was coming up with proposals of how increase employees professional efficiency: In terms of outside customers, Taylor was unmistakably an efficiency expert and not a marketing analyst (Martin, p. 40). However, even though that Scientific Management theory views the increase of manufacturing efficiency as something that has value in itself, Taylor appears to be an individual who was able to realize that the concept of marketing (although not clearly defined at the beginning of 20 th century) will affect the manufacturing process to ever increasing extent, as time goes by: For instance, Taylors most significant technical innovations were in the area of high-speed metal cutting. But why was he interested specifically in cutting metals? The reason, in a word, was the market (Martin, p. 40). (6) In his article, Martin argues that Scientific Management needs to be viewed as precursor to TQM. Although, there is certain logic in how author pursues with his argumentation, it appears that Martins conclusions do not derive out his perceptional objectivity, as scientist. In other words, we can say that in his article, author simply strives to provide the concept of neo-Liberal economics with scientific plausibility.
Despite the fact that author clearly understands that neo-Liberal notions of empowerment and transition-decision making do not correspond to the economic realities of post-modernity, he still tries to do his best to refer to them as the final product of theoretical progress, in the field of management and economics. (7) Just as any neo-Liberal theoretician, Martin is clearly having a hard time, while striving to express his ideas in clear and coherent manner. This is the reason why he needed more then ten pages to make his point, even though that he could have easily done in one page. It is understood that, prior to being introduced to Martins article, potential readers must have a basic idea of what the theories of Scientific Management and TQM stand for. However, given the fact that these theories can be interpreted in variety of different ways, people who discuss them in their articles, need to strive to actually make the ideological premises, associated with Scientific Management and TQM, to be viewed by readers as having practical implications. However, it appears that Martins true goal, throughout the course of writing his article, was to make it as much unintelligible as possible, in order to be referred to as truly sophisticated. Therefore, we cannot think of his work as such has an objective value. (8) After having read the article, I learnt that the economists and industrialists of 19 th century were actually thinking about empowering workers, as their foremost priority, without being able to realize it rationally, as it this appears to be the main idea, contained in Martins article.
Bibliography: 1. Backer, P. 1998. Scientific Management. San Jose State University, [Online] Available at: web [ 21 June 2008 ] 2.
Garcia, A. and Martinez, E. 2002. What is Neoliberalism? . Corp Watch, [Online] Available at: web [ 21 June 2008 ] 3. Kolodko, G. 2001. Economic Neoliberalism Became Almost Irrelevant.
The World Bank Group, [Online] Available at: web [ 21 June 2008 ] 4. Martin, D. 1995. From Mechanical Engineering to Re-engineering: Would Taylor be Pleased with Modern Management? . Journal of Management History, Vol. 1, Issue 2, Pp. 38 - 51. 5. Taylor, F. 1911.
The Principles of Scientific Management. Marxists Internet Archive, [Online] Available at: web [ 21 June 2008 ]
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