The early twentieth century brought to the attention of industry the study of time and
motion as a method to improve work-practice efficiency. Frederick W. Taylor introduced
the concept of scientific engineering, in which he recognized that each task could be
examined scientifically and rationally optimized to improve productivity. Taylor is a controversial figure in management history because although his innovations in industrial
engineering paid off with dramatic improvements in productivity, he has been credited
with destroying the “soul” of work and with dehumanizing factories. Taylor recognized
the importance of training an employee to the highest level of his capabilities and the
responsibility of management to prepare systems to enable the worker to work better and
more quickly than he otherwise could. Taylor believed that workers should be taught by
and that they should receive the “most friendly help” from their managers instead of being
driven or coerced by their bosses or left to their own unaided devices.