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Explain the concept of 'Development of each person to his greatest efficiency' as a principle of Scientific management.

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Remember: Better Workers = Better Work. Taylor believed that training a worker to their maximum limit guarantees maximum profit for the factory.
Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
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Correct Answer: 4

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Introducing the principle.
F.W. Taylor formulated four foundational principles of Scientific Management. One of them, "Development of each person to his greatest efficiency," focuses entirely on maximising the human resource potential within a factory or organisation.
Step 2: The core idea - worker efficiency drives organisational prosperity.
Taylor firmly believed that the prosperity of an organisation and the prosperity of its workers are inseparable. If individual workers perform at their peak capacity, the entire organisation benefits through higher productivity. Maximum efficiency of each employee is therefore a direct investment in the company's overall success.
Step 3: Step one - scientific selection of workers.
The process begins with carefully and scientifically selecting the right workers for the right jobs. Management must study the physical strength, mental aptitude, and skill requirements of each role and then recruit only those individuals who are naturally best suited to perform that task efficiently.
Step 4: Step two - assigning work according to capability.
Once workers are hired, their assignments should match their natural abilities and qualifications precisely. Placing a physically weak worker on a heavy-lifting task, or a non-technical person on a skilled machine, is a waste of human potential. Scientific assignment prevents such mismatches.
Step 5: Step three - continuous training in the best method.
Management is responsible for teaching workers the scientifically determined best method of doing each task. This ongoing training ensures that workers do not rely on outdated habits or trial and error, but instead follow the most efficient, time-tested, and fatigue-reducing technique available.
Step 6: Mutual benefit - higher wages and higher output.
When each worker is developed to their greatest efficiency, they can complete more work in less time, which earns them higher wages under Taylor's differential piece-wage system. Simultaneously, the organisation produces more output at a lower cost per unit, creating a win-win outcome for both parties.
\[ \boxed{ \text{Development of each person to greatest efficiency: scientifically select workers, assign tasks matching capabilities, provide continuous training in the best method, and achieve mutual prosperity through higher wages and higher organisational output.} } \]
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