The classical school of management theories were developed during the Industrial Revolution of the mid- to late- 1800s and early 1900s. They are largely concerned with improving efficiency and productivity.
The main classical management theories include:
Fayol's five functions of management
Taylor - Scientific Management
Taylor's work is typical of the Classical school and emphasises the idea that there is one "best way" of doing a job and generally it is the role of management to determine the optimal solution and then tell staff what to do. If a problem of motivation arises then workers will usually respond to being paid more, perhaps through productivity bonusses.
While there are areas where these models are still relevant, most modern theorists would argue that a more progressive approach is needed where:
it is recognised that there is not always a 'best' way of doing a particular job;
managers realise that employees can have valuable insights into a job and can make important suggestions for improvements; and
many workers are motivated by factors other than financial rewards.