Frederick Taylor Vs Henri Fayol Essay

In this essay I will be choosing two management theorists and finding similarities and differences in their works in the field of management. The two theorist I have chosen to go with are Fredrick Winslow Taylor and Henri Fayol. In my opinion personally I think these people contributed hugely to the management field. Frederick Winslow Taylor was responsible for “Scientific Management” where it is concerned with the development of one best way of performing a task through the application of scientific methods. Frederick Taylor is known as the "father of scientific management." Taylor began work at the age of 18 as an apprentice to a pattern maker, and as a machinist. He later joined the Midvale Steel Company as a laborer rising in eight years to chief engineer. During this period at the steel mill, he performed exhaustive experiments on worker productivity, and tested what he called the "task system," later developing into the Taylor System, and eventually progressing into scientific

Taylor believed that all employees in the firm should report to several bosses at once which was breaking up the principal of unity of command where the workers have to report to only one boss. Lack of unity of command can create confusions and chaos in the organisation.(4) While on the other hand Fayol believed it was in best interest for the business to have employees report directly to only one supervisor/boss. Fayol believed this cut out any confusion within the organisation and highlighted who was in charge.”For any action whatsoever an employee should receive orders from one superior only”(5). This is now obvious that Fayol understood the importance of “Unity of Command” while Frederick Taylor