While classical and scientific management theories come from generally the same school of business thought, there are some distinct differences within the subgroups. First, there's classical scientific management theory which concentrates on the efficiency of the individual worker. Secondly, you have classical administrative that focuses on the organization rather than the individual worker within. Each have their merits but are also over 100 years old and can have deficiencies in today’s technologically advanced workplace. However, that doesn't mean that the theories are outdated by any means. You just need to use them as supplements and not a primary or sole management strategy.

To understand and implement the classical and scientific management theory basics, you need to know the basis and the pros and cons of the theories. Once you have the basics down, it'll reduce process procedure problems during implementation. Therefore, before you institute any of the policies there are a few items to consider:

1. Know the origins of classical and scientific management theory.

2. Understand the pros and cons of scientific and classical management theory.

3. Study cases and examples of scientific and classical management theories.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Examine the tenants of classical and scientific management theory

Any theory, no matter what the application, won't work if you don't understand the basis on which it's built. One of the basic differences between the two are classical focuses on management and scientific on methods to accomplish good business management.

I recommend: Evaluate the essential aspects of Scientific Management theory. Then, examine the comparison of the two types of management in this article on the Classical Schools of Management.

Be sure you know the pros and cons of classical theory in business

There's no single management theory that you'll be able to apply to every situation and have it work. For instance, the classical school of management relies on the experience of management more than other theories. This is fine if your staff is mature. However, you'll need to adjust the theory application for inexperienced staff members.

I recommend: Study the benefits and limitations on the Scientific Management Theory at 12manage - The Executive Fast Track. Then, examine the weaknesses of Classical Management theory at ArticlesGratuits.com to compare and contrast the two.

Use case studies and real world examples to understand scientific and classical school of management

A proper knowledge base can't be obtained without seeing how theories apply to situations that you'll experience on the job. Case studies and critiques are a great way to accomplish this.

I recommend: Register at the Business Network and evaluate the classical school of management case study. Utilize the classical management real world mistake by Steven C. McConnell.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Classical theory of management or any style of management is contingent on the employees to which you apply it. Be sure that the theory you choose will work correctly with your staff before making any changes.

Scientific management theory, also called classical management theory, entered the mainstream in the early 1900s, with an emphasis on increasing worker productivity. Developed by Frederick Taylor, the classical theory of management advocated a scientific study of tasks and the workers responsible for them. Although its goal was providing workers the tools necessary for maximizing their efficiency and output, it is also criticized for creating an "assembly-line" atmosphere, where employees do only menial jobs. For this reason, it has fallen out of favor among many companies and schools of thought, but could still be a valuable tool for your organization, provided you carefully examine all of its principles. For example, the scientific theory of management is considered better suited to businesses based on repetitive tasks, such as a factory.

To understand if it's best for your organization, you need to know the foundation of classical management theory. Classical and scientific management theory is based on four main principles:

1. Company leadership should develop a standard method for doing each job using scientific management.
2. Workers should be selected for a job based on their skills and abilities.
3. Work should be planned to eliminate interruptions.
4. Wage incentives should be offered to encourage increased output.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Before implementing classical management, assess your current management style

Prior to making any changes in your company's leadership style, review your current management methods and their effectiveness. You may find strengths, weaknesses or issues you weren't aware of, and these could affect what kind of management theory is most appropriate for your organization. And with a thorough understanding of how your company operates, you can more smoothly and quickly implement a new method.

I recommend: Purchase the Complete Management Skills Assessment Kit from Business Training Media, which assesses everything from problem-solving to change leadership skills. Or, try the self-administered style management assessment from Management Style Coach, which assesses the management skills of individuals.

Prepare for the shift to classical scientific theory by providing management training to leadership

A key part of adopting any new management style is understanding the basics of managing employees, and the complexities of change management. Lay a solid foundation for your change to the scientific school of management by helping your leadership refine their management skills.

I recommend: Consider management training programs from the American Management Association or Management Concepts.

Hire a consultant to help you implement the theory of scientific management

Any change made at the management level requires careful planning, and constant communication with employees to help them understand the transition. And shifting from one management style to another involves a complete overhaul of how your company functions. Rather than tackle all of this on your own, you may want to consult a management trainer or consultant, who has been the process before at several other companies, and who has an in-depth understanding of the management style you've chosen.

I recommend: Manifest Management offers management training; try the company's free business evaluation, to help you identify potential problems throughout your organization. The Center for Innovative Leadership offers everything from leadership coaching to change management to "building high performance cultures."

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When implementing any new management style, including scientific management theories, educate all employees, not just management, about how the method works and what it means for them. This will help the entire organization transition more quickly, and promote teamwork by making all employees feel they are an important part of the success of the new process.

Classical and scientific management theory grew out of Frederick Taylor's turn-of-the-century work evaluating and improving worker productivity. Scientific management theory focuses on studying individual tasks and the workers who do them, and is typically associated with assembly-line production. If your business uses an assembly line or involves highly specialized discrete tasks, classical management may be a good choice for you.

The management structure in the classical school of management is highly hierarchical, so if your business has a similar structure you may find it useful for managers and employees at all levels to have some training in classical management. While obtaining a degree or certification is one way to learn about the theories of classical and scientific management, you can also obtain a working knowledge of classical theory of management principles from workshops, guides or overviews.

Learn more about classical management theory from the following sources:

1. Enroll in management theory coursework to obtain degrees or certification.
2. Learn how to apply classical management theories with the help of consultants.
3. Find free overviews of scientific management theory online.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get classical and scientific management theory education and training from colleges and universities

A number of colleges and universities provide classical and scientific management theory coursework as part of management and organizational theory degrees or certificate programs. While some programs require on-campus coursework, others can be completed entirely online. Management and organizational theory courses typically cover classical management theorists as well as other, more recent schools of thought.

I recommend: For an advanced degree, look into the Work, Technology and Organization program at Stanford University, or an online certificate in Management Productivity from Cornell's eCornell online program. You can also find information about taking a course or getting a degree in management theory from the University of Phoenix online at eLearners.com.

Get guidance in classical management through consulting or government assistance programs

Private consulting firms and government assistance programs can help your business become more familiar with management theories and how to implement them in your workplace. If you are interested in classical and scientific management theory education and training, but want practical solutions for all levels of business rather than theoretical knowledge for those at the top, consider seeking outside assistance for achieving concrete results in management and productivity.

I recommend: Accel provides consulting for your business and allows you to download a supervisor's guide to productive workplaces, which includes historical information about classical management theory. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has a Training and Management Assistance program that can help train your business in the use of classical management principles to enhance productivity.

Find free overviews of scientific management theory online for training in the basics

If you want to provide your management personnel with basic training in classical management theory, consider getting a free overview of management theory online. Sharing and implementing classical and scientific management ideas may make more sense to your employees when placed in the broader context of management as a field of study.

I recommend: Cliffs Notes provides a short but helpful overview of classical management theory. The Free Management Library also has information about the evolution of management thought, as well as other management resources for your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you decide to implement ideas from the classical theory of management, be aware that the focus on worker productivity may place an increased burden on employees. Provide a basic level of training to employees at all levels, not just management, to make sure that everyone understands and is on board with the shift in management philosophy.

While the ideas of classical and scientific management theory were formed during the Industrial Revolution, some of the principles still apply today. Managers should become well-informed about a number of different management theories so that they can choose which styles may work best with their particular group of employees. They may want to apply administrative theory or scientific management to their job. Or they may choose to use an informal organization to create work teams to complete projects.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Scientific management

Scientific management is an idea championed by Frederick Taylor that looks at the specific tasks that workers do and aims to find more efficient ways to do them. This could either result in higher productivity levels from employees, or a decrease in the number of needed employees, saving the company money.

I recommend: Learn about scientific management in its historical perspective at Accel-Team.

Administrative theory

The administrative theory focuses on the organization as a whole. It looks to separate tasks so that each employee and manager can specialize in a particular area. Rules and regulations are very important to administrative theory.

I recommend: You can read more about administrative theory in Theories of Organization by Henry L. Tosi.

Theory of bureaucracy

The Theory of Bureaucracy was developed by Max Weber and focuses on establishing an ideal bureaucracy for your organization. In particular, bureaucracies should have strict division of labor, many rules and an impersonal relationship between manager and employee.

I recommend: KernsAnalysis.com offers a look at classical management theory, including the Theory of Bureaucracy.

14 Principles of Management

The 14 Principles of Management were developed by Henri Fayol and are aspects that managers should adopt in order to effectively manage. They include such things as division of work and unity of command.

I recommend: Visit 12 Manage to see the full list of the 14 Principles of Management.

Gantt chart

Created by Henry Gantt, the Gantt chart is a method for measuring the progress of a project. It focuses on time and shows how long the various stages of a product are meant to take along a calendar.

I recommend: To see an example of a Gantt chart and to learn more, visit Gantt Charts.

Informal organization

Within any organization, members begin to naturally gravitate towards certain people, forming groups based on interests, skills or personality. This concept is called informal organization and was developed by Chester Barnard.

I recommend: BasicCollegeAccounting.com discusses informal organization and its benefits.