SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT

ADVANTAGES OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANIZATION

Educational management, also sometimes known as educational administration is commonly associated with elementary and secondary schools as well as institute of higher learning like colleges and universities. Educational management professionals can also be found working in governmental agencies, private companies and not for profit organizations. Those working in educational management might act as policy makers, researchers or consultants to help evaluate and develop ways to enrich and enhance the educational system at all levels (learn.org/Article).

Scientific management, Merril, (1960:77-81) in Galabawa (2001:18), he pointed out that in essence, scientific management involves a complete mental revolution on the party of the workers engaged in particular establishment or industry in terms of their duties towards their work and towards their fellow workers.

Mitcham, Carl (2005:1153) defines scientific management that is a theory of management that analyzed and synthesized work flows. Its main objective is to improve economic efficiency, especially labor productive. It was one of the earliest attempts to apply science to engineering of process and to management.

Also Njoroge, R.J and Bennaars, G.A (2004:33-34) explains scientific educational theory; this perspective is primary analytic in as far as each educational science, be it sociology, psychology or economics, act the totality of education in parts as it were, then isolate one party and makes that its concern. Thus the psychologist concerns himself with the psychological aspects of education, leaving other aspects or parts to the sociologist economist. Infact, scientific theory implies detailed study of these problems from a very specific perspective that is psychological or sociological; it is a meaningful because it is specific, involving specialized study.

Scientific management theory was developed in the early 20^th century by Fredrick W Tailor (1856-1915). He was an American inventor and engineer. Has two most important works were shop management (1903) and (1911). The husband and wife team of Frank Gilbreth, Sr and Lilian Moller Gilbreth contributed to the theory. This continued the practice of time and motion studied started by Tylor, believing they could find the best way to perform each task studied.

Woodham, Jonathan (1997:12) comments that its peak of influence came in the 1910s by the 1920s. It was still influential but had entered into competition and syncretism with opposing or complementary ideas.

Scientific management theory seeks to improve organizations efficiency by systematically improving the efficiency of task completion by utilizing scientific, engineering and mathematical analysis. The goal is to reduce waste, increase the process and methods of production of goods. This goal serves the common interests of employers, employers, employees and society.

Scientific management theory can be summarized by Taylor’s four principles, which are:

i)                    Managers should gather information, analyze it and reduce it to rules, laws or mathematical formula.

ii)                  Managers should scientifically select and train workers.

iii)                Managers should ensure that the techniques developed by science are used by the workers.

iv)                Managers should apply the work equally between workers and themselves, where managers apply scientific management theories to planning and the workers perform the tasks pursuant to the plans.

Therefore, these four principles have been applied in education institutions in order to create effective management and administration as the following:

Managers should scientifically select and then train, teach and develop the workers, whereas in past the workers choose his or her own wok and trained him or herself as best as he could. In this aspect, every worker is studied, then developed to bring out his or her best faculties. The worker is also trained to do higher more interesting and more profitable class for work. Actually by this point Taylor was emphasizing the need for workers education programmes.

This principle is now applied in educational management whereas workers are being selected, trained, taught and developed. By taking case study on Mwanza city council, there is a special fund for educating and training workers. The workers should write the letter requesting for permission of further study then the council select to pay for him or her according to the high demand of the council as well as the budget. For example, science teachers are being selected to be trained and educated through Educational Fund due to lack of science teachers.

Closely cooperate with the workers so as to ensure all the work is being done in accordance with the principles of the science which has been developed. By this Taylor’s intention was to argue management to inspire the workers to bring about the desired change in working styles as he had proposed  because changes will not occur naturally (Merrill, 1960:93). Thus, there was a need for training managers to make them conversant with the scientific management practice. This happen when something new is being introduced, through their cooperation they can educate themselves and help the educational organization to do well in its management. A case from Tarime district example Mogabiri secondary school there is the introduction of new subject which is Information Computer Technology (ICT) and through their cooperation (Teachers) they taught well and made their administration management to be stable.

Develop a science to replace the old rule of thumb methods. Taylor was strong in the belief that there could be an organized body of knowledge in management that could be taught and learned and which is also the only best way of doing things. He aspired to replace the arbitrary and capacious activities of managers with analytical scientific procedures. This says that we should not get stuck in a set routine with old techniques of doing work; rather we should be constantly experimenting to develop new techniques which make the work simpler, easier and quicker. This principle has influenced effective management and administration in education organization in Tanzania. For example taking a case study at St. Augustine University of Tanzania in Mwanza Malimbe, the principle has been put in practice example field application, before the application was done through arranging line and select schools for field, but now the selection of schools for field is done through online. Announcement of academic matters, examination results and course work marks was posted on walls but know are posted online. Examination identity cards before students were required to provide passport size so that they can prepare it but now they make it through computation system in providing examination identity cards without provide passport size. Also receipt for students school fees before was written by hand writing but now they are being processed through computer system.

Applying the work equally between workers and managers where management applies scientific techniques to planning and the workers perform the task pursuant to the plans. According to this principle, to attain efficiency and effectiveness, management should take over all work for which they are better fitted rather than have all the work to subordinates (Galabawa, 2001:19). This principle advocated that responsibility of management should be separated from that of workers. Therefore, management is expected to plan, facilitate and set standards of work. Workers on the other hand should perform the tasks assigned to increase their efficiency. Case study in Tarime district at Magabile secondary school where timetable allocated subjects to all teachers available at school. This makes the head master or head mistress, second master or mistress to attend in school as a normal teacher.

Generally, the scientific management theories have made a great improvement in organizations efficiency by systematically improving the efficiency of task completion by utilizing scientific and mathematical analysis. The theory has made great changes by its implications in educational institutions in Tanzania like the way is exemplified above.

REFERENCES:

Bandiho, H. & Rupia, C.(2015) Educational Management and Leadership in practice. Mombasa:Cactus East Africa.

Galabawa, J.C.J (2001). Perspectives in Educational Management and Administration. Dar es Salaam: KAD Associates.

Learn.org/articles.

Mitcham, C (2005) “Management” Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics. U.S.A: Macmillan Reference.

Njoroge, R.J and Bennars, G.A (2004). Philosophy and Education in Africa; An Introductory Text for Students of Education. Nairobi: Huzza Printers.

Okumbe, J.A (1999). Management of Higher Distance Education. Nairobi: UNESCO, Dakar Press.

Woodham, J (1997) Twentieth-Century Design. New York: Oxford University Press.