The Origins and Development of Scientific Management

This article addresses the origin and development of Scientific Management, a theory proposed by F. W. Taylor. Bibliographical research was conducted, consulting journals and books by recognized authors in the field. The three main questions guiding the research were: what is the origin and development of Scientific Management, what is the theoretical proposition of this approach, and who were its main followers. It was found that, before Taylor, several authors had already suggested ideas aligned with the principles of Scientific Management, including Adam Smith (1776), Robert Owen (1810), James Mill (1820), Charles Babbage (1832), Frederick Halsey (1891), Daniel McCallum (1856), Henry V. Poor (1812-1905), Henry Metcalfe (1885), and Henry Towne (1886). Scientific Management advocates the specialization and division of labor as strategies to increase worker productivity and company profitability. The main followers of this theory were Henry Gantt (1861-1919), Carl Barth (1860-1939), Sanford E. Thompson (1867–1949), Harrington Emerson (1853-1931), Frank B. Gilbreth (1868-1924), Lilian Gilbreth (1878-1972), Morris L. Cooke (1872-1960), and Henry Ford (1863-1947).