SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT
SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT
SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT
ADVANTAGES OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANIZATION
Educational
management, also sometimes known as educational administration is commonly
associated with elementary and secondary schools as well as institute of higher
learning like colleges and universities. Educational management professionals
can also be found working in governmental agencies, private companies and not
for profit organizations. Those working in educational management might act as
policy makers, researchers or consultants to help evaluate and develop ways to
enrich and enhance the educational system at all levels (learn.org/Article).
Scientific
management, Merril, (1960:77-81) in
Galabawa (2001:18), he pointed out that in essence, scientific management
involves a complete mental revolution on the party of the workers engaged in
particular establishment or industry in terms of their duties towards their
work and towards their fellow workers.
Mitcham,
Carl (2005:1153) defines scientific management that is a theory of management
that analyzed and synthesized work flows. Its main objective is to improve economic
efficiency, especially labor productive. It was one of the earliest attempts to
apply science to engineering of process and to management.
Also
Njoroge, R.J and Bennaars, G.A (2004:33-34) explains scientific educational
theory; this perspective is primary analytic in as far as each educational
science, be it sociology, psychology or economics, act the totality of
education in parts as it were, then isolate one party and makes that its
concern. Thus the psychologist concerns himself with the psychological aspects
of education, leaving other aspects or parts to the sociologist economist. Infact,
scientific theory implies detailed study of these problems from a very specific
perspective that is psychological or sociological; it is a meaningful because
it is specific, involving specialized study.
Scientific
management theory was developed in the early 20th century by
Fredrick W Tailor (1856-1915). He was an American inventor and engineer. Has
two most important works were shop management (1903) and (1911). The husband
and wife team of Frank Gilbreth, Sr and Lilian Moller Gilbreth contributed to
the theory. This continued the practice of time and motion studied started by
Tylor, believing they could find the best way to perform each task studied.
Woodham,
Jonathan (1997:12) comments that its peak of influence came in the 1910s by the
1920s. It was still influential but had entered into competition and syncretism
with opposing or complementary ideas.
Scientific
management theory seeks to improve organizations efficiency by systematically
improving the efficiency of task completion by utilizing scientific,
engineering and mathematical analysis. The goal is to reduce waste, increase
the process and methods of production of goods. This goal serves the common
interests of employers, employers, employees and society.
Scientific
management theory can be summarized by Taylor’s four principles, which are:
i)
Managers should gather information, analyze
it and reduce it to rules, laws or mathematical formula.
ii)
Managers should scientifically select
and train workers.
iii)
Managers should ensure that the
techniques developed by science are used by the workers.
iv)
Managers should apply the work equally
between workers and themselves, where managers apply scientific management
theories to planning and the workers perform the tasks pursuant to the plans.
Therefore,
these four principles have been applied in education institutions in order to
create effective management and administration as the following:
Managers
should scientifically select and then train, teach and develop the workers, whereas
in past the workers choose his or her own wok and trained him or herself as
best as he could. In this aspect, every worker is studied, then developed to
bring out his or her best faculties. The worker is also trained to do higher
more interesting and more profitable class for work. Actually by this point
Taylor was emphasizing the need for workers education programmes.
This
principle is now applied in educational management whereas workers are being
selected, trained, taught and developed. By taking case study on Mwanza city
council, there is a special fund for educating and training workers. The
workers should write the letter requesting for permission of further study then
the council select to pay for him or her according to the high demand of the
council as well as the budget. For example, science teachers are being selected
to be trained and educated through Educational Fund due to lack of science
teachers.
Closely
cooperate with the workers so as to ensure all the work is being done in
accordance with the principles of the science which has been developed. By this
Taylor’s intention was to argue management to inspire the workers to bring
about the desired change in working styles as he had proposed because changes will not occur naturally
(Merrill, 1960:93). Thus, there was a need for training managers to make them
conversant with the scientific management practice. This happen when something new
is being introduced, through their cooperation they can educate themselves and
help the educational organization to do well in its management. A case from
Tarime district example Mogabiri secondary school there is the introduction of
new subject which is Information Computer Technology (ICT) and through their
cooperation (Teachers) they taught well and made their administration
management to be stable.
Develop
a science to replace the old rule of thumb methods. Taylor was strong in the
belief that there could be an organized body of knowledge in management that
could be taught and learned and which is also the only best way of doing
things. He aspired to replace the arbitrary and capacious activities of
managers with analytical scientific procedures. This says that we should not
get stuck in a set routine with old techniques of doing work; rather we should
be constantly experimenting to develop new techniques which make the work
simpler, easier and quicker. This principle has influenced effective management
and administration in education organization in Tanzania. For example taking a
case study at St. Augustine University of Tanzania in Mwanza Malimbe, the
principle has been put in practice example field application, before the
application was done through arranging line and select schools for field, but
now the selection of schools for field is done through online. Announcement of
academic matters, examination results and course work marks was posted on walls
but know are posted online. Examination identity cards before students were
required to provide passport size so that they can prepare it but now they make
it through computation system in providing examination identity cards without
provide passport size. Also receipt for students school fees before was written
by hand writing but now they are being processed through computer system.
Applying
the work equally between workers and managers where management applies
scientific techniques to planning and the workers perform the task pursuant to
the plans. According to this principle, to attain efficiency and effectiveness,
management should take over all work for which they are better fitted rather
than have all the work to subordinates (Galabawa, 2001:19). This principle
advocated that responsibility of management should be separated from that of workers.
Therefore, management is expected to plan, facilitate and set standards of
work. Workers on the other hand should perform the tasks assigned to increase
their efficiency. Case study in Tarime district at Magabile secondary school
where timetable allocated subjects to all teachers available at school. This
makes the head master or head mistress, second master or mistress to attend in
school as a normal teacher.
Generally,
the scientific management theories have made a great improvement in organizations
efficiency by systematically improving the efficiency of task completion by
utilizing scientific and mathematical analysis. The theory has made great
changes by its implications in educational institutions in Tanzania like the
way is exemplified above.
REFERENCES:
Bandiho, H. & Rupia, C.(2015) Educational Management and Leadership in
practice. Mombasa:Cactus East Africa.
Galabawa, J.C.J (2001). Perspectives in Educational Management and
Administration. Dar es Salaam: KAD Associates.
Learn.org/articles.
Mitcham, C (2005) “Management” Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics. U.S.A:
Macmillan Reference.
Njoroge, R.J and Bennars, G.A (2004). Philosophy and Education in Africa; An
Introductory Text for Students of Education. Nairobi: Huzza Printers.
Okumbe, J.A (1999). Management of Higher Distance Education. Nairobi: UNESCO, Dakar
Press.
Woodham,
J (1997) Twentieth-Century Design.
New York: Oxford University Press.
