Who is considered father of Scientific Management ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
Frederick Winslow Taylor, or F. W. Taylor, is widely and correctly credited as the "Father of Scientific Management" for his seminal work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His approach, detailed in his book *The Principles of Scientific Management* (1911), revolutionized industrial production by applying scientific methods to the problem of work efficiency. Taylor proposed that management should replace the old "rule-of-thumb" methods with a system based on systematic observation, measurement, and analysis to determine the single best way to perform each task. His four key principles include developing a true science for each element of a man’s work, scientifically selecting and then training the workman, heartily cooperating with the workmen to ensure all work is done according to the scientific principles, and dividing work and responsibility between management and workmen.

The incorrect option is 1:
Peter Drucker is an eminent figure known as the "Father of Modern Management," and his contributions were more focused on the broader purpose, structure, and effectiveness of an organization, particularly from the mid-20th century onward. His most famous concepts include "Management by Objectives" (MBO), the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship, and the rise of the "knowledge worker." While his work is foundational to strategic and general management, it is distinct from Taylor's specific focus on micro-level shop-floor efficiency and task analysis.

The incorrect option is 3:
Victor Vroom is a distinguished scholar in the field of Organizational Behavior, specifically concerning motivation. He is best known for propounding the **Expectancy Theory of Motivation** (1964). This theory posits that an employee's motivation is an outcome of how much an individual wants a reward (Valence), the assessment that the effort will lead to expected performance (Expectancy), and the assessment that the performance will lead to the reward (Instrumentality). His work is psychological and behavioral in nature, a branch of management theory that emerged much later than and is entirely separate from the production-focused, classical principles of Scientific Management.

The incorrect option is 4:
Henry Fayol is recognized as the "Father of Administrative Management." He worked concurrently with Taylor but focused his efforts on the functions of management for the organization as a whole, particularly at the top-management level. His major contribution is the identification of the five primary functions of management—Planning, Organizing, Commanding, Coordinating, and Controlling—and the development of the **14 Principles of Management**, such as Unity of Command and Scalar Chain. Thus, while both are classical management pioneers, Fayol dealt with the administrative structure, whereas Taylor dealt with the scientific planning of the worker's task.