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Explain ‘Science, not Rule of Thumb’ as a principle of Scientific Management and ‘Functional Foremanship’ and ‘Time study’ as techniques of Scientific Management.

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Remember: Science = Data over guessing. Functional Foremanship = 8 Bosses (Specialization). Time Study = Setting the standard clock for a job.
Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
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Correct Answer: 4

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Introduce Taylor's Scientific Management.
F.W. Taylor, the Father of Scientific Management, advocated replacing intuition-based management with systematic, scientifically derived methods. The question asks for one principle and two techniques.
Step 2: Explain the Principle - Science, not Rule of Thumb.
Taylor argued that there is always one scientifically best method to perform any given task - identified through careful study, measurement, and analysis of every motion and time taken. Managers must use this scientifically determined best method instead of relying on personal intuition, past experience, or the traditional rule of thumb approach, which varies from worker to worker and leads to inconsistent, sub-optimal results.
Step 3: Explain Technique 1 - Functional Foremanship.
Taylor extended the principle of specialization to supervision. In a traditional setup, one foreman oversees all aspects of a worker's task. Taylor instead proposed eight specialized foremen - four handling planning functions (Route Clerk, Instruction Card Clerk, Time and Cost Clerk, Disciplinarian) and four handling production/execution functions (Gang Boss, Speed Boss, Repair Boss, Inspector). Each foreman is a deep specialist in their narrow domain, providing far more expert guidance than a single generalist foreman ever could.
Step 4: Explain Technique 2 - Time Study.
Time Study involves scientifically determining the standard time required for a worker of average skill and ability to complete a specific, well-defined task under normal working conditions. This is measured through careful stopwatch observations over multiple trials. The data obtained is used to set daily work targets, fix fair wages under differential piece rate systems, determine the exact number of workers required, and plan labor costs more accurately.
Step 5: Connect all three elements.
The principle of Science not Rule of Thumb provides the philosophical foundation, while Functional Foremanship and Time Study are practical tools that operationalize that philosophy on the factory floor - replacing guesswork with data and specialization.
Step 6: Conclude.
Taylor's principle (Science not Rule of Thumb) demands that every task be done the one best scientific way. Functional Foremanship uses eight specialized supervisors for expert guidance. Time Study uses stopwatch data to set standard time, wages, and workforce requirements.
\[ \boxed{ \text{Taylor's contributions: Science not Rule of Thumb (principle); Functional Foremanship and Time Study (techniques)} } \]
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