Scientific Management Theory of F. W. Taylor

 

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)


1. Who is most closely associated with the Scientific Management Theory?


A. Henri Fayol

B. F. W. Taylor

C. Elton Mayo

D. Max Weber


Answer: B. F. W. Taylor


2. F. W. Taylor is popularly known as the:


A. Father of Sociology

B. Father of Public Administration

C. Father of Scientific Management

D. Father of Human Relations


Answer: C. Father of Scientific Management


3. F. W. Taylor was from which country?


A. Britain

B. France

C. Germany

D. United States of America


Answer: D. United States of America


4. In which year was F. W. Taylor born?


A. 1850

B. 1856

C. 1861

D. 1870


Answer: B. 1856


5. When was Taylor’s The Principles of Scientific Management published?


A. 1905

B. 1909

C. 1911

D. 1915


Answer: C. 1911


6. Which was one of Taylor’s important earlier works?


A. Administrative Behavior

B. Shop Management

C. Human Problems of an Industrial Civilization

D. General and Industrial Management


Answer: B. Shop Management


7. What was the primary objective of Scientific Management?


A. To increase political power

B. To increase efficiency and productivity

C. To increase the size of organisations

D. To reduce the number of workers


Answer: B. To increase efficiency and productivity


8. According to Taylor, Rule of Thumb should be replaced by:


A. Personal preference

B. Tradition

C. Scientific methods

D. Political decisions


Answer: C. Scientific methods


9. Which is the first principle of Taylor’s Scientific Management?


A. Unity of Command

B. Science, Not Rule of Thumb

C. Scalar Chain

D. Esprit de Corps


Answer: B. Science, Not Rule of Thumb


10. According to Taylor, workers should be selected:


A. Traditionally

B. On the basis of personal relations

C. Scientifically

D. On the basis of seniority


Answer: C. Scientifically


11. What should follow scientific selection of workers?


A. Training

B. Transfer

C. Retirement

D. Resignation


Answer: A. Training


12. What is the main purpose of Time Study?


A. To determine the age of workers

B. To determine the time required to perform a task

C. To determine the number of employees

D. To determine the price of products


Answer: B. To determine the time required to perform a task


13. What is the main purpose of Motion Study?


A. To identify and eliminate unnecessary movements

B. To increase wages

C. To determine product prices

D. To recruit employees


Answer: A. To identify and eliminate unnecessary movements


14. Fatigue Study is concerned with:


A. Organisational size

B. Worker fatigue

C. Wage rates

D. Machine prices


Answer: B. Worker fatigue


15. Motion Study is particularly associated with:


A. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

B. Max Weber and Fayol

C. Mayo and Barnard

D. Simon and Gulick


Answer: A. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth


16. What does Standardisation mean?


A. Establishing predetermined standards for work and its various elements

B. Transferring employees

C. Reducing wages

D. Closing an organisation


Answer: A. Establishing predetermined standards for work and its various elements


17. How many specialised supervisory positions were included in Taylor’s Functional Foremanship?


A. 4

B. 6

C. 8

D. 10


Answer: C. 8


18. Which of the following belongs to the Planning Department in Functional Foremanship?


A. Speed Boss

B. Inspector

C. Route Clerk

D. Repair Boss


Answer: C. Route Clerk


19. What was the function of the Instruction Card Clerk?


A. To pay wages

B. To prepare instructions for performing the work

C. To repair machines

D. To inspect quality


Answer: B. To prepare instructions for performing the work


20. What was the main function of the Inspector?


A. To determine the route of work

B. To train workers

C. To inspect the quality of work

D. To determine wages


Answer: C. To inspect the quality of work


21. The Repair Boss was responsible for:


A. Discipline

B. Machine repair and maintenance

C. Time measurement

D. Quality control


Answer: B. Machine repair and maintenance


22. What is the main objective of the Differential Piece-Rate System?


A. To establish a relationship between productivity and wages

B. To provide equal wages to all workers

C. To reduce the number of workers

D. To increase working hours


Answer: A. To establish a relationship between productivity and wages


23. Task and Bonus System is particularly associated with:


A. H. L. Gantt

B. Elton Mayo

C. Max Weber

D. Henri Fayol


Answer: A. H. L. Gantt


24. What was the main purpose of Taylor’s concept of Mental Revolution?


A. To establish cooperation between management and workers

B. To increase the number of workers

C. To stop production

D. To abolish organisations


Answer: A. To establish cooperation between management and workers


25. Which of the following is an important feature of Scientific Management?


A. Division of Labour

B. Political control

C. Absence of planning

D. Informal organisation only


Answer: A. Division of Labour


26. In Scientific Management, Planning and Execution were:


A. Combined completely

B. Separated

C. Both abolished

D. Given only to workers


Answer: B. Separated


27. The concept of “Economic Man” gives importance to:


A. Social recognition

B. Financial incentives

C. Political power

D. Religious values


Answer: B. Financial incentives


28. Which is a major limitation of Scientific Management?


A. It gives comparatively less attention to human and psychological factors

B. It uses scientific methods

C. It emphasises training

D. It promotes standardisation


Answer: A. It gives comparatively less attention to human and psychological factors


29. The Human Relations Approach gives greater importance to:


A. Time alone

B. Production alone

C. Human and social factors

D. Machines alone


Answer: C. Human and social factors


30. Which Taylorian principle is closely related to modern Personnel Administration?


A. Scientific Selection and Training

B. Political Selection

C. Random Selection

D. Traditional Selection


Answer: A. Scientific Selection and Training


31. Which of the following is a major objective of Scientific Management?


A. Increasing waste

B. Reducing productivity

C. Increasing efficiency

D. Eliminating standards


Answer: C. Increasing efficiency


32. According to Taylor, an important responsibility of management is to:


A. Punish workers only

B. Plan work and determine scientific methods

C. Leave all decisions to workers

D. Stop production


Answer: B. Plan work and determine scientific methods


33. Scientific Management seeks to reduce:


A. Efficiency

B. Waste

C. Productivity

D. Training


Answer: B. Waste


34. Which Taylorian principle can be applied to Public Administration?


A. Standardisation

B. Absence of rules

C. Absence of planning

D. Complete personal control


Answer: A. Standardisation


35. What is the central idea of Scientific Management?


A. Rule of Thumb

B. Scientific Study of Work

C. Political Control

D. Social Revolution


Answer: B. Scientific Study of Work


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2-Mark Questions and Answers


1. What is Scientific Management?


Answer: Scientific Management is a systematic approach to management that uses observation, measurement, analysis and standardisation to improve organisational efficiency and productivity.


2. Who was F. W. Taylor?


Answer: F. W. Taylor was an American mechanical engineer and management thinker. He is widely known as the Father of Scientific Management.


3. Mention two objectives of Scientific Management.


Answer:


1. To increase efficiency and productivity.

2. To reduce wastage of time, labour and resources.


4. What is meant by “Science, Not Rule of Thumb”?


Answer: It means replacing traditional, experience-based methods with scientifically studied and tested methods of performing work.


5. What is Scientific Selection and Training?


Answer: It means scientifically selecting workers according to the requirements of a job and providing them with appropriate training to perform the work efficiently.


6. What is Time Study?


Answer: Time Study is the systematic measurement of the time required by a properly trained worker to complete a particular task under specified conditions.


7. What is Motion Study?


Answer: Motion Study is the systematic study of the movements involved in performing a task in order to identify and eliminate unnecessary movements.


8. What is Fatigue Study?


Answer: Fatigue Study examines the causes and effects of worker fatigue and considers factors such as working hours, rest periods, physical effort and working conditions.


9. What is Standardisation?


Answer: Standardisation means establishing predetermined standards for tools, equipment, materials, methods, working conditions, time and quality of work.


10. What is Functional Foremanship?


Answer: Functional Foremanship is Taylor’s system of specialised supervision in which supervisory functions are divided among specialised supervisors.


11. Name two positions in the Planning Department of Functional Foremanship.


Answer: Route Clerk and Instruction Card Clerk.


12. Name two positions in the Production Department of Functional Foremanship.


Answer: Gang Boss and Speed Boss.


13. What is the Differential Piece-Rate System?


Answer: It is a wage system in which workers who achieve the prescribed standard receive a higher piece rate, while those who fail to meet the standard receive a lower rate.


14. What is the Task and Bonus System?


Answer: It is a system in which a worker is given a predetermined task and time limit and receives a bonus in addition to the regular wage when the task is completed according to the prescribed standard.


15. What is Mental Revolution?


Answer: Mental Revolution refers to a change in the attitude of management and workers from conflict and suspicion towards cooperation and mutual understanding.


16. Why did Taylor separate Planning from Execution?


Answer: Taylor believed that management should be responsible for planning, determining methods and standards, while workers should carry out the work according to the scientifically determined procedures.


17. What is meant by the concept of Economic Man?


Answer: Economic Man refers to the assumption that financial rewards are an important motivating factor for workers. Higher performance is associated with higher financial rewards.


18. Mention two techniques of Scientific Management.


Answer: Time Study and Motion Study.


19. Mention two limitations of Scientific Management.


Answer:


1. It gives comparatively less importance to social and psychological factors.

2. It places considerable emphasis on financial incentives as a source of motivation.


20. Mention two applications of Scientific Management in Public Administration.


Answer: Its principles can be applied in work measurement, standardisation of administrative procedures, scientific recruitment and training, and performance evaluation.


21. Mention one difference between Scientific Management and the Human Relations Approach.


Answer: Scientific Management mainly emphasises efficiency, productivity and scientific work methods, whereas the Human Relations Approach gives greater importance to social, psychological and human factors.


22. Mention two major contributions of Taylor.


Answer:


1. He introduced the systematic scientific study of work.

2. He developed important techniques such as Time Study, standardisation and scientific selection and training.


23. How does Scientific Management increase organisational efficiency?


Answer: It increases efficiency through scientific work methods, time and motion studies, standardisation, specialisation, proper selection and training of workers, and reduction of wastage.


24. Name two thinkers associated with the development of Scientific Management.


Answer: F. W. Taylor and Frank Gilbreth.


25. What is the contemporary relevance of Scientific Management?


Answer: Its principles remain relevant in work study, standardisation, employee training, performance measurement, process improvement and efficient utilisation of organisational resources.


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Very Short Exam Facts


- Father of Scientific Management: F. W. Taylor

- Year of Birth: 1856

- Year of Death: 1915

- Major Work: The Principles of Scientific Management

- Year of Publication: 1911

- Earlier Important Work: Shop Management

- Important Technique: Time Study

- Motion Study: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

- Task and Bonus System: H. L. Gantt

- Functional Foremanship: 8 specialised supervisory positions

- Major Motivation: Financial incentives

- Main Objective: Increase efficiency and productivity

- Core Principle: Science, Not Rule of Thumb

- Important Concept: Mental Revolution


Sources


- F. W. Taylor, The Principles of Scientific Management

- F. W. Taylor, Shop Management

- M. Laxmikanth, Public Administration

- IGNOU Public Administration Study Materials

- Standard texts on Management and Organisation Theory

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