As slavery influenced the modern business management

In 1911, a special committee of the US Congress met to discuss the impact on the lives of workers of new management methods. The Committee is particularly interested in scientific management - a technique that should be measured and improve staff productivity.

It included the rationalization of labor methods, timing and mathematical way of calculating the cost. The main proponent of this system was the engineer Frederick Taylor, who published the book "Principles of Scientific Management." The latter has become the gold standard in the management, its influence is felt to this day. And now the author is often praised for the idea of ​​using accurate metrics even for basic processes.

However, in 1911, scientific management was criticized for its resemblance to slavery. The workers complained about total control, low pay and lack of confidence arose in the team, because of which "one suspects the other of treason or espionage." As a result, the committee came to the conclusion that some of the elements of the system are "just as the whip overseer of slaves, constantly supporting them

anxiety».

Of course, the ticking stopwatch - is not the same thing as clicking a whip (or a combination of the whip with a stopwatch, which was used in some plantations).

However, this analogy is not in vain is a concern. Especially when you consider that the proponents of scientific management openly used the terminology of the slave system.

One of Taylor's supporters, philosopher Scudder Klais (Scudder Klyce), claimed that scientific management - a democratic system. However, he had a kind of vision of democracy. He described it as a system in which the "competent person takes the initiative to give orders when he exceeds the abilities of others, and the others obey him."

Control - a key characteristic of scientific management. Although it was thought that he may sometimes pass into the hands of the workers ( "turner at any time can show the head of the shop the best mode of production"), for them it was from this little use. Showing the head of the department the best mode of production, could become unnecessary and losing their jobs.

But the most striking similarities between slavery and scientific management - a "job."

Taylor called it "the most significant element" method. His associate Henry Gantt developed a "system of targets and bonuses." According to her workers are paid a base rate and additional fees for production above a certain minimum.

However, such a system existed long before Taylor and Gantt, they only slightly improved it. She was one of the main methods of work organization under slavery. Slaves was assigned a certain number of "tasks" to be executed before the end of the day.

Some slave-owners, who have used such a system, even given monetary compensation for exceeding the standards. This "luring bait" looks not only at the Gantt techniques, but also in today's economy free earnings.

With the exception of the base rate and the possibility of quit, Gantt system is almost no different from the methods of the slave owners, which he did not hide Gantt. He was born in the South, in the family, who owned 60 slaves. And his goal was to adapt the old system to modern needs.

Many researchers have noted the XX century these parallels. For example, in 1973 the sociologist Keith Aufhauser (Keith Aufhauser) wroteSlavery and Scientific Management"With regard to discipline in the workplace [...] relations of the capitalist and wage-worker in companies with a scientific management is very similar to the relationship of master and slave."

Despite these studies, this similarity little mention. According to Professor Bill Cooke of York University (Bill Cooke), the fact that experts in management does not take into account historical data, can be equated to a denial of history. And to overcome this denial, it is necessary not only to recognize that the slave owners used some form of scientific management.

We need to rethink entrenched beliefs about the relation to the control of capitalism.

Some types of management bring success, giving managers a very high level of control over workers. The advent of scientific management in the late XIX century, can be seen both as innovation, and as a revival of the old methods control.

Modern views on the development of capitalism often emphasize the mutually beneficial effects of individual choice. They put forward the view that free, even selfish decisions go hand in hand with growth and innovation. That the enormous wealth accumulated by a few people, improve conditions for others.

Taylor's method is often used as an inspiration and a reference point when talking about the economy transformation. But the history of slavery reminds us that might look like the pursuit of profit when sold everything, including human life.

The ability to control the slaves accelerated production. This was achieved by increasing the speed of their work and transfer to more fertile soil. By manipulating the human capital accumulated huge fortunes slaveholders.

The legacy of American business includes examples of innovative changes and incredible cruelty. Often, they are closely related to each other, as is the case with the scientific management and slavery. Mindful of these unpleasant relationships, we can see the roots of capitalism and the relationship of control. And maybe even find a more humane way in the future.