Search This Blog

Saturday, 10 August 2013

demonstrating Taylor's claims using Navrang puzzle: POM Lesson 8.

Learning objective: learn the importance of process management by using a Navrang cube puzzle and critical examination of Taylor’s scientific management theory.

Navrang cube puzzle
It’s a practical demonstration of Taylor’s principle of Scientific Management. Taylor said to improve the productivity Replace working by "rule of thumb," or simple habit and common sense, and instead use the scientific method to study work and determine the most efficient way to perform specific tasks.

To check the gravity of Taylor’s argument, Dr. Mandi came up with this interesting new puzzle in which all students were challenged to arrange 27 cubes of 9 colours and make 1 big cube. The catch lied in the fact that each face should contain all the 9 colours.


Many students tried, performed well to an extent but the outcome was not satisfactory. There was no set process or procedure defined to arrange the cube. Every student had to spend a lot of time in thinking. It may not be a great hitch at individual level, but from an organization’s point of view it’s a disaster. If each individual worker/employee keep on spending so much of thinking time on the same job again and again it will never be productive. It calls for the need of standard operating procedure and deskilling of the process.


On the second phase of the puzzle, Dr. Mandi defined 9 simple steps to arrange the smaller cubes. The process was so simple and didn’t involve any mental work. Then students were invited once again to arrange the cubes and this time there was a drastic change in their productivity. Results were very conspicuous that process planning is the key to increase productivity. This is exactly the same that Taylor claimed. Dr. Mandi was again able to prove his point in his own strange way.

you can read more about Taylor's theory of scientific management from the below link:


2 comments:

  1. Good.
    Let me add..Modern management theories are NOT undermining the TAYLOR..What Tayor said is basic. What modern management theories like autonomy to workers... is further addition on after mastering the Taylor.. To practice modernity.. we need to master Taylor, get best benefits.. and then move to pick up modernity.To embrace modernity one cannot neglect Taylor... Without mastering Taylor we cannot move to the next.. Only those who mastered Taylor can master next management theories...! It is interesting to see the progress of management theories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sir, you are absolutely right to point this out. theories of management are progressive in their approach. management need to be dynamic and must respond to changing times and constraints.

      Delete