Frederick Winslow Taylorism Summary

In this source, Engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor proposes the idea of “scientific management” of the labor force, known as “Taylorism”. Taylor demonstrates an experiment to show the effectiveness of his method, by using fewer workers to improve efficiency and getting the absolute most out of workers. This document is introduced during the Progressive Era, where workers’ rights were being heard with the rise of socialism. His aim was to increase productivity with fewer workers. However, this document is categorized as biased because the experiment was not observed by a third-party, but by the experimenter himself. Therefore, only the positives of the experiment were shown and the negatives obscured.

The document promotes the idea of extreme efficiency in the workforce. Taylor uses the experiment involving Schmidt to show the success of Taylorism as he aims to “find the proper workman.” His choice is that each individual reaches “his highest state of efficiency and prosperity”. And the argument is that careful selection of productive people who work to their full potential is better to the workforce. …show more content…
In the beginning the tone is neutral as he explains the scientific management. He then develops a very inquisitorial tone when Taylor starts to speak to Schmidt. Taylor keeps asking, “are you a high-priced man” constantly until he explains what he means and Schmidt agrees that he is. His tone then shifts and Taylor becomes very condescending towards Schmidt. Taylor continues to talk to Schmidt in this manner saying, “you know just well that a high-priced man has to” and “Well if you are a high-priced man” and “Now a high-priced man does just what he’s told to do.” He treats Schmidt like a child, it’s similar to something a parent would say to their kid when crying, “Why are you crying? Big boys don’t cry.” It’s a very childish, the way that Taylor approaches Schmidt with, and very