Quote: why Taylor started scientific management; life as one continuous struggle with other men is hardly worth living

Quotation

The writer came into the machine-shop of the Midvale Steel Company in 1878 ... As soon as the writer was made gang-boss, one after another of the men came to him and talked somewhat as follows: "Now, Fred, we're very glad to see that you've been made gang-boss. ... we're sure that you're not likely to be a piecework hog. ... if you try breaking any of these rates you can be mighty sure that we'll throw you over the fence." The writer told them plainly that he was now working on the side of the management, and that he proposed to do whatever he could to get a fair day's work out of the lathes. This immediately started a war; in most cases a friendly war ... which as time went on grew more and more bitter. ... [p. 52] the writer told these men to say to the other men in the shop that he proposed to walk home every night right up that railway track; that he never had carried and never would carry any weapon of any kind, and that they could shoot and be d----". After about three years of this kind of struggling, the output of the machines had been materially increased, in many cases doubled ... [But] Life which is one continuous struggle with other men is hardly worth living. ... Soon after being made foreman, therefore, he decided to make a determined effort to in some way change the system of management, so that the interests of the workmen and the management should become the same, instead of antagonistic. [p. 53]   Google-1   Google-2

Published before 1923

Related Topics

Topic: managing people (64 items)