Classical school of thought

Classical school day of approximationINTRODUCTIONThere be three of import areas to the pure school of thought the Classical, Humanistic and Management Science thoughts. All three of these opinions helped shape how industry developed through the ages, and elements of the classical school of thought are still used today in modern management. The Classical perspective emphasised a scientific and efficient approach to managing work. The Humanistic approach pore on human behaviour and attitudes as well as how to cause actors to fulfil the very best they could at work. Fin every(prenominal)y the Management Science perspective straininged the importance of applying quantitative techniques such as statistics and mathematics to management problems.One early management innovator who is sometimes known as the induct of management1 was Robert Owen (1771 1856) who ran mills, most famously of all in New Lanark where he introduced several sore management practices. Owen also contribut ed towards the humanistic perspective by trying to put forward life better for his workers through understanding his workers needs for example by providing a nursery so employees with young children could continue works, and by proposing political mends on issues such as shorter working hours for children, higher wages and increased job security so that workers safety and physiological needs would be better met. nonetheless though these reforms were not passed in full delinquent to his ideas failing to win him immediate followers and possibly being too radical for the time due to the all-or-nothing approach 2 Owens work went on to influence place reformers such as Joseph Rowntree and heavily influenced management in todays world.CONTRIBUTIONSTechnological advancements such as the go engine radically changed the organization of work. A large number of workers gathered together in a new type of workplace called a factory. This new way of organizing work was a serious challenge t o any manager of the time. Planning, organizing, leading and controlling such a large and complex organization brought close more than problems and challenges. Therefore, decisions based on rules of thumb and tradition became obsolete and new approaches and solutions had to be developed.Conditions in early factories were extremely harsh, with very hazardous working conditions for all employees. Long working hours (normally at least 13 hours per day, six days a week) were the norm, with children as young as five or six working under the same conditions as adults. Factory owners placed more importance on the care of their expensive machines than on the well-being (or otherwise) of their expendable employees.3Robert Owen radically change the approach to how a factory is run, placing more emphasis on the actual workers within the environment than just the wellbeing of the equipment. As the classical school of thought regarded people as machines, Owen recognised that machines must be well cared for in order to function optimally and lastingly, and thus improved on the classical perspective by treating the workers in a more humane way that would give them the respect and motivation to perform their best, in a happier work environment. Robert Owen not nevertheless made Lanark Mills more profitable than any other mills at the time, but he proved that happy, educated and water-loving employees work harder and master better results Proving that his method was effective.Owen was able to produce unheard of profit and good productivity due to his new methods of work, thus gaining New Lanark and himself international recognition. Owens social reform that helped his business progress includedImproving housing conditionsMaking a public refuse systemPaving new streetsRobert Owen was a pioneer in trying to limit child labour, by introducing a more humane and progressive employment No children younger than ten years old were utilize and these were allowed relatively dece nt breaks for meals and some modestly worthwhile educational opportunities.4 In adult labour his efforts were continued extensively by enforcing simple rules to eradicate drunkenness, laziness, and crime. In order to reduce these efforts Owen created a Silent Monitor System where a red-blooded piece of wood indicated an employees performance via the colour at the front of the square this could be linked to scientific management where employees are monitored to improve productivity, as well as the humanistic perspective as the system was an attempt to motivate laggards to perform better and good workers to maintain high performance.5 Owen thus created a workplace that was motivated and content. Owen managed to influence other early industrialists by buying bulge out his opponents and changing the way their businesses were run, to mimic his new approach. This would in turn, cause others to see how he was increasing efficiency in the workplace with his methods, and cause them to foll ow suit. new-fashioned managers recognize the importance of employee welfare, as they have seen how much of an impact good care can increase business success, learning from past examples, such as the ones set by Robert Owen. For example offering flexible work methods where employees may work from home due to a large commutes, or children, so great as their work is sent in on time. Nowadays employees are offered perks in their jobs to increase working satisfaction, and hopefully increase their dedication to the company. E.g. Dental and medical checkup care, holidays, pension funds, company cars/phones. By Owen giving education and general aid to his workers, we in the modern society have made this standard and are eternally looking for ways to further improve working environments and processes, to make businesses even more efficient and also enjoyable.LIMITATIONSAs we have seen Robert Owen was an innovator in the industrial revolution, creating policies to benefit the business env ironment and creating a work place that was motivational, progressive, and organized. However, Robert Owen was considered somewhat radical in the business workplace during the time of the industrial revolution, and thus his policies had many limitations. Even in todays business environment some of his policies would be considered too heavily biased on equality, instead of focusing on profits, which remains the main aim of businesses in modern management.Robert Owens philosophy within management was based upon socialism, creating an equal workplace for everyone, to increase the overall welfare of society. He tried to stress this with his business associates, however due to his views being considered radical at the time Owen alienated himself from many of his business partners. In his Truth Principles he states Any confederation may be arranged, on a due combination of the foregoing principles, in such a manner as not only to study vice, poverty, and, in a great degree, misery from the world, but also to place every individual under such circumstances in which he shall enjoy more permanent happiness than can be given to any individual under the principles which have heretofore regulated society.6 Robert Owen believed that in todays business worlds, every worker could enjoy permanent happiness, however the principles of management are based on a competitive market place, in which capitalist values are at the core of creating a profitable business and permanent happiness for workers is not the main objective of companies. Robert Owens theories would be considered as too radical and somewhat delusive to achieve in modern management, due to the fact that everyone must have some form of authority and responsibility, creating a workplace based on bonus and promotional prospects instead of ensuring worker happiness.The diagram demonstrates another limitation that Robert Owens classical theories contain. Robert Owen could not have foreseen how business would have dev eloped at such a rapid rate, and to the extent in which businesses have expanded, creating new branches of business in which modern management has to facilitate. Thus Robert Owen could not have known how difficult it would be to create a business structure that creates an equal and socially responsible work environment that tries to cater for an ever growing population and the effects of globalization. military rankRobert Owen is truly one of the most influential management contributors in the classical perspective. He helped build a basis for modern management by introducing key social reforms, technological improvements, and increased worker productivity.Owen formed a structure for humanistic managers to develop their skills and become socially accepted. By increasing the amount of healthy adult workers, and reducing the amount of child labour, this, over a long period of time on a large scale made the countrys economic system stronger by taking pressure off of the basic health s ystems at the time and increased the number of children in education, in order to develop a higher skilled society. By believing that every worker could contribute in some aspect and that every individual was vital to the success of his business, Owen was an stirring to Douglas McGregor, who was the main contributor to theory X and theory Y analysis. However, we have seen some of the limitations to his approach to management and although this was heavily influenced by the classical school of thought, to achieve his status as a pioneering manager, he used humanistic approaches too. He has proved that no one can use just one school of thought only, but a mixture of this and humanistic to improve efficiency between workers and the operations of the business.SOURCES AND REFERENCESRobert Owen. Robert Owen. Web. 4 Nov. 2009. . Daft, Richard L. New Era Of Management. South-Western, 2008. Print.Sources/ReferencesSources used for the introductionhttp//www.answers.com/ event/management-histo rical-perspectivesAdditional background reading for the introductionRobert Owen, Prophet of the Poor edited by Pollard and Salt.http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_management_techniqueshttp//www.laynetworks.com/Theories-of-Motivation.html((http//www.age-of-the-sage.org/historical/biography/robert_owen.html))contributions)http//www.reliance-securities.com/images/img_structure.jpg