Frederick Winslow Taylor
The following is an obituary from March 21, 1915, announcing the death of Frederick Winslow Taylor.
1 PHILADELPHIA, March 21: Frederick Winslow Tayler, originator of the modem scientific management movement, died here today from pneumonia. He was 59 years old, and was a former President of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Among his numerous inventions and discoveries was the Taylor-White process of treating modem high-speed took. He was the author of articles on scientific efficiency. and installed his system in many large industrial establishments.
2 The writings and lectures of Frederic Winslow Taylor formed the basis of the recent reorganization of methods of handing labor in many of the largest industries in the country. The articles of Mr. Taylor on "Scientific Management" in 1911 had a good deal to do with giving its new, special meaning to the word "efficiency" and making it the watchword which it has become since that time.
3 One of his leading doctrines which has made a deep impression on business and industry in this country since that time is that a man who proves incompetent at one jab should be fitted in where he can give good service, instead of being discharged. His life work was chiefly devoted to the simplification of industrial processes to reduce costs and increase Outputs.
4 Mr. Taylor was born at Germantown, Philadelphia, on March 20, 1856, and was graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1883. He won the doubles championship of the United States at tennis at Newport in 1881. He entered the employ of the Midvale Steel Company at Philadelphia in 1878 and was successively gang boss, assistant foreman, foreman of the machine shop, master mechanic, chief draughtsman, and chief engineer.
5 In 1889 he began his special work of re-organizing the management of
What did Taylor believe should be done if an employee was not good at doing an assigned job?
- A. The employee should be fired.
- B. That job's duties should be reorganized.
- C. A job better suited to the employee should be found.
- D. The employee should be made to read Taylor's books and articles.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Taylor advocated for scientific management, emphasizing the importance of matching employees to jobs that fit their skills and abilities. Finding a job better suited to an employee (Option C) aligns with his belief in optimizing workforce efficiency and productivity. Option A, firing the employee, disregards the potential for growth and development. Option B, reorganizing job duties, may not address the root issue of skill mismatches. Option D, making the employee read Taylor's works, lacks practical application and does not directly resolve the employee's performance issues. Thus, aligning roles with individual strengths is key to achieving success.
Taylor advocated for scientific management, emphasizing the importance of matching employees to jobs that fit their skills and abilities. Finding a job better suited to an employee (Option C) aligns with his belief in optimizing workforce efficiency and productivity. Option A, firing the employee, disregards the potential for growth and development. Option B, reorganizing job duties, may not address the root issue of skill mismatches. Option D, making the employee read Taylor's works, lacks practical application and does not directly resolve the employee's performance issues. Thus, aligning roles with individual strengths is key to achieving success.
Other Related Questions
What does the supply line represent?
- A. The number of hours people are willing to work at any given wage rate
- B. The number of hours employers are willing to provide workers at any given wage rate
- C. The government's estimate of the number of hours people should be willing to work at any given wage rate
- D. The government's estimate of the number of hours employers should be willing to provide workers at any given wage rate
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The supply line represents the number of hours people are willing to work at various wage rates, reflecting individual choices based on compensation. Option B inaccurately describes the supply line as representing employer willingness, which pertains to the demand side of labor. Options C and D suggest government estimates, which do not align with the supply line's role in illustrating personal labor supply decisions rather than regulatory or prescriptive measures. Thus, the supply line fundamentally captures individual workers' responses to wage incentives, making option A the most accurate.
The supply line represents the number of hours people are willing to work at various wage rates, reflecting individual choices based on compensation. Option B inaccurately describes the supply line as representing employer willingness, which pertains to the demand side of labor. Options C and D suggest government estimates, which do not align with the supply line's role in illustrating personal labor supply decisions rather than regulatory or prescriptive measures. Thus, the supply line fundamentally captures individual workers' responses to wage incentives, making option A the most accurate.
A drought strikes Toland and decreases the amount of fish caught from 8 units to 2 units. How will this change affect trade negotiations for the following year?
- A. The countries should maintain the existing agreement.
- B. Both countries should produce both goods.
- C. Toland should specialize in the production of timber.
- D. Toland should specialize in the production of fish.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
A decrease in fish catch due to drought shifts Toland's production capabilities. Specializing in timber (Option C) allows Toland to focus on a resource that can still be produced effectively, potentially increasing trade value. Maintaining the existing agreement (Option A) ignores the new realities of reduced fish availability, which could lead to imbalances. Producing both goods (Option B) may spread resources too thin, hindering efficiency. Specializing in fish (Option D) is unwise, as the drought has drastically reduced fish availability, making it impractical to rely on this sector.
A decrease in fish catch due to drought shifts Toland's production capabilities. Specializing in timber (Option C) allows Toland to focus on a resource that can still be produced effectively, potentially increasing trade value. Maintaining the existing agreement (Option A) ignores the new realities of reduced fish availability, which could lead to imbalances. Producing both goods (Option B) may spread resources too thin, hindering efficiency. Specializing in fish (Option D) is unwise, as the drought has drastically reduced fish availability, making it impractical to rely on this sector.
According to Cartoon 2, how were American laborers affected by foreign laborers?
- A. A larger supply of labor tends to drive down wages.
- B. A growing population tends to raise the cost of living.
- C. A growing demand for jobs tends to increase productivity.
- D. A larger labor market tends to provide better job opportunities.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
American laborers faced wage reductions due to the influx of foreign laborers, as indicated in Cartoon 2. A larger supply of labor typically leads to increased competition for jobs, resulting in lower wages for workers. Option B incorrectly suggests that a growing population raises living costs; while this can be true, it does not directly address the impact of foreign labor on American workers' wages. Option C focuses on job demand increasing productivity, which is unrelated to the effects of foreign labor on wages. Option D claims a larger labor market provides better job opportunities, but this overlooks the wage suppression effect highlighted in the cartoon.
American laborers faced wage reductions due to the influx of foreign laborers, as indicated in Cartoon 2. A larger supply of labor typically leads to increased competition for jobs, resulting in lower wages for workers. Option B incorrectly suggests that a growing population raises living costs; while this can be true, it does not directly address the impact of foreign labor on American workers' wages. Option C focuses on job demand increasing productivity, which is unrelated to the effects of foreign labor on wages. Option D claims a larger labor market provides better job opportunities, but this overlooks the wage suppression effect highlighted in the cartoon.
Which of these statements best describes the difference between Commonwealth v. Hunt and Muller v. Oregon?
- A. Commonwealth v. Hunt is relevant only to education cases, while Muller v. Oregon is relevant only to issues of labor relations.
- B. Commonwealth v. Hunt is relevant only to labor issues, while Muller v. Oregon is relevant only to free speech issues.
- C. Both cases deal with labor issues; Commonwealth v. Hunt allows the existence of labor unions, while Muller v. Oregon gives businesses the right to challenge unions' demands.
- D. Both cases deal with labor cases; Commonwealth v. Hunt allows the existence of labor unions, while Muller v. Oregon supports state regulation of working hours for women.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Both cases address labor issues but focus on different aspects. Commonwealth v. Hunt established that labor unions are legal and can organize, promoting workers' rights. In contrast, Muller v. Oregon upheld state regulations on women's working hours, emphasizing the government's role in protecting workers' welfare. Option A incorrectly limits Commonwealth v. Hunt to education cases, while B misrepresents both cases by suggesting they only concern labor and free speech issues. Option C inaccurately implies that Muller v. Oregon allows businesses to challenge unions, which is not its focus.
Both cases address labor issues but focus on different aspects. Commonwealth v. Hunt established that labor unions are legal and can organize, promoting workers' rights. In contrast, Muller v. Oregon upheld state regulations on women's working hours, emphasizing the government's role in protecting workers' welfare. Option A incorrectly limits Commonwealth v. Hunt to education cases, while B misrepresents both cases by suggesting they only concern labor and free speech issues. Option C inaccurately implies that Muller v. Oregon allows businesses to challenge unions, which is not its focus.