Standardizing and The Gilded Age, Essay Example

Frederick W. Taylor published a work entitled The Principles of Scientific Management in 1911 (“Frederick Taylor”). In this work, Taylor describes how applying the scientific method to the workplace increases productivity (“Frederick Taylor”). Scientific Management proposes four principles: (1) Replace current work standards with standards based on the scientific study of the jobs tasks; (2) Select, train, and develop each employee using science; (3) Work with employees to ensure they follow; and (4) Divide work equally between workers and managers so to ensure that all employees follow the scientific approach (“Frederick Taylor”). Taylor also developed a framework for the organization of work which included the clear delineation of authority, responsibility, separation of planning from operations, incentives for workers, management by exception, and specialization in tasks (“Historical Perspectives”).

Scientific Management is a hallmark of American capitalism for several reasons. First, Scientific Management helped to influence and speed up the industrialization of the United States (“Scientific Management”). Second, the management techniques in Scientific Management relate to the characteristics of American capitalism (Weinberg 1). Specifically, American capitalism promotes production of commodities, private ownership, and free wage earners (Weinberg 1).

The standardizing of the nation affected American society in a cyclical pattern (Schulz). The standardization of mass production led to a demand for better machines (Schulz). The machines led to higher production and better wages (Schulz). The rise in wages created a demand for more consumer goods which in turn led to mass production (Schulz).

The term, Gilded Age, describes the period of rapid economic growth that looked good on the surface, but was corrupt underneath (“Learn About”). This period was one of unprecedented economic growth, due to the rapid industrialization from standardization (“Gilded Age”). The excesses of the Gilded Age led to a change in the way Americans felt about capitalism and led to reforms such as labor unions, The Sherman Antitrust Act, and The Civil Services Act (“Learn About”).

Works Cited

Frederick Taylor and Scientific Management. Internet Center for Management and Business Administration, Inc., 2010. Web.29 Jan. 2011 <http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/scientific/>.

Gilded Age. Wikipedia. Web. 29 Jan 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_Age>.

Historical Perspectives on Productivity and Improvement. Accel Team, 2010. Web. 29 Jan 2011 <http://www.accel-team.com/scientific/scientific_02.html>.

Learn About the Gilded Age. Digital History 2011. Web. 29 Jan 2011 <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/gilded_age/index.cfm>.

Scientific Management. Encyclopedia of Business and Finance. www.enotes.com 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2011 http://www.enotes.com/business-finance-encyclopedia/scientific-management

Schulz, Stanley. The Politics of Prosperity: The1920’s. Web. 29 Jan. 2011. <http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture15.html>.

Weinberg, Meyer. A Short History of American Capitalism. New History Press, 2003. Web. 29 Jan. 2011 <http://www.allshookdown.com/newhistory/CH01.htm>.