SV: Need an operational Definition of Scientific Management

[Marie-Louise Thorsén Lind <marie-louise@thorsen-lind.se>]

I agree with Jim and Peter. I also am not happy about the recent discussion
about scientific management on the den. 

To my mind there are huge differences between the Taylor form of management
and the Deming way. One of the major differences is in the management of
people. But that is not the only difference.       

Jim may already have the beginnings of an operational definition of
scientific management in his first mail. In my part of the world scientific
management is Taylorism. It doesn't matter that scientific management the
Taylor way, is not considered to be a true product of science. 

Therefore Deming of course couldn't use the term scientific management for
his philosophy. It was already occupied.

I also think that Jim's question could lead this discussion into a wider
dimension. In the Swedish translation of Taylor's book from 1911 I have
found the Taylor method presented as the final solution on how to get the
most from one man and his machine. 

I think that Shewhart and Deming are not the only scientists who proved
Taylor to be wrong. I do however suspect that many western scientists have
continued on the same track as Taylor. It would be nice to get the dens
reactions on that...

Marie-Louise Thorsén Lind
Researcher on management for quality
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 
marie-louise@thorsen-lind.se