F. W. Taylor: Critical Evaluations in Business and Management

This collection focuses on Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915), the initiator of 'scientific management'. Taylor set out to transform what had previously been a crude art form into a firm body of knowledge. His work is synonymous with breaking down tasks into the smallest detail, diagnosing the abilities of workers, and then fitting the two together to achieve greater efficiency. His methods have been associated with both massive increases in productivity and an obsession with control.