The management theories of Frederick Taylor have been mainstays of business practice -- and lingo -- for almost 100 years now. But like most industry-specific terms, words and phrases based on Taylor's management theory can be confusing. Once a term becomes well-known, it's assumed everyone knows what it means, but meanings can change over time, and complicated ideas can often be boiled down into short but inaccurate catch phrases.

To get a handle on Taylor's theory, it's important to understand some key words and phrases, both as Taylor originally meant them, and as they have developed over time. Here are three key terms from the Frederick Taylor management theory:

1. Understand what soldiering means in the Taylor theory of management.

2. See how sales engineering revolutionizes marketing in the management theories of Frederick Taylor.

3. Get an in-depth grasp of Taylor's theory of lean manufacturing.

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Be aware of the impact of soldiering on your organization according to Frederick Taylor

Soldiering refers to workers deliberately under-producing for three reasons: lack of incentive, fear of job loss, and absence of standardized work procedures. Taylor applied it to the factory, but you will find it lowering productivity in office cubicles around the world.

I recommend: Read Taylor's own, very in-depth definition of soldiering at the Modern History SourceBook. See "Frederick Taylor and Scientific Management" from NetMBA for a modern definition of soldiering in general and in factory work.

Explore the concept of sales engineering as presented in Taylor's theory of management

Sales engineering is not just matching products to specific segments of the consumer population. In Frederick Taylor's theory, sales engineering is a radical extension of micro-management from workers inside the company to consumers outside of it.

I recommend: Read a thorough examination of sales engineers from the U.S. Department of Labor. "Manufacturing the Love of Possession" shows how Taylor's theory of management, when applied to consumers, changes the nature of capitalism itself.

Find out what lean manufacturing means in Taylor's scientific management theory

Lean manufacturing, lean production, lean thinking -- they're all terms used fairly interchangeably, usually to describe radical cost-cutting methods like outsourcing and mass layoffs. But lean manufacturing is not about cutting jobs or funding; it's about understanding all parts of your business process and making them flow seamlessly. Using people wisely within a well-oiled system is the key to lean thinking.

I recommend: Lean manufacturing, or lean thinking, is defined in full at curiouscat.com. The lean.blog has a wealth of information on lean manufacturing and production.

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• •  Reading Taylor's original definitions of his terms, then comparing them to later versions, is helpful not only in understanding the terms, but seeing how real-life business application of Taylor's theory has led to adjustments in meaning.

Frederick Taylor's theory of scientific management developed techniques for improving the efficiency of the work process. Based on a systematic study of people, tasks and work behavior, Taylor's theory broke the work process down into the smallest possible units, or sub-tasks, in an effort to determine the most efficient method possible for completing a particular job.

Taylor's method consisted of testing the completion of various tasks to determine the optimal amount of work that could be accomplished within a certain time period. Taylor's management theory asserts that organizations should identify the best way to do a job, train workers to handle each element in a pre-determined manner (instead of basing their work on their own personal discretion) and set up an equitable system of rewards for improved productivity. Taylor's theory brought numerous improvements to organizational management during a period when an autocratic management style was the norm. Some developments that resulted from the Taylor theory of management are these:

1. Significantly improved productivity;

2. Increased employee incentive;

3. Widespread improvements in quality control;

4. Better personnel practices; and

5. Greater cooperation between management and workers with a consistent application of Taylor s theory of management.

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Gain a thorough understanding of Taylor's management theory

Numerous websites provide valuable information about Taylor's theory. In addition to diagrams and summaries of Taylor's principles, you'll find various slide shows and other instructional materials that can help you develop the knowledge and expertise to adapt Taylor's management theory to the needs of your company.

I recommend: An excellent overview of Frederick Taylor's theory of scientific management, found at 12Manage, thoroughly explains the theory and presents a number of modern management approaches that have their origin in Taylor's theory. The ACCEL Team's Supervisor's Guide to Productivity Improvement can help you address one of the most important aspects of Taylor's management theory: greater productivity for both manager and worker. SlideShare Inc. offers a slide show which illustrates where Taylor's theory fits in the evolution of modern management theory.

Take advantage of consulting services based on Frederick Taylor's management theory

Consultants with knowledge and experience in the management theory of Frederick Taylor can guide you in maximizing the benefit of his scientific management principles in your own company's unique environment.I Recommend:Originally built on Taylor scientific management theory, PA Consulting Group provides guidance in a number of areas of business operation that Taylor considered critical, including operational efficiency and process transformation. First Order Consulting focuses on such areas as leadership, task management, employee motivation and efficiency--all areas addressed by Taylor's scientific management theory.

I recommend: Originally built on Taylor's scientific management theory, PA Consulting Group provides guidance in a number of areas of business operation that Taylor considered critical, including operational efficiency and process transformation. First Order Consulting focuses on such areas as leadership, task management, employee motivation and efficiency--all areas addressed by Taylor's scientific management theory.

Access online tools to help you put Taylor's theory into practice

Widely available online tools and resources can help you more easily implement Taylor's theory of management. Websites offering quizzes and checklists, along with other Taylor-based products, information and services let you choose the resources most valuable to your business.

I recommend: The Center for Coaching and Mentoring's How Do You Influence Others? quiz can help you improve your relationships with subordinates--another of Taylor's main goals. ACCEL Team offers a practical group of checklists to help you work on improving employee productivity, efficiency and effectiveness, as Taylor's theory advocates.

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• •  Be sure to take advantage of as many online tools and resources as possible to develop a clear understanding of the value that Frederick Taylor management theory can have for your company.

The management theory of Frederick Taylor blends two elements to create a more productive workplace: individual worker experience, and well-described tasks for each worker to perform. In the Taylor theory of management, every individual in a company is taught exactly what he or she is supposed to do before starting work, but management is open to implementing improvements in the work cycle, as suggested by experienced workers.

Frederick Taylor's theory was first published in 1911. Since then, businesses using his management theory have come up with ways to apply the Taylor theory of management to their 21st-Century businesses. Here are three productivity-increasing strategies inspired by the management theories of Frederick Taylor that you can take to work:

1. Transform your production methods with business process re-engineering.

2. Open up the lines of communication with Taylor's theory on quality circles.

3. Cut out errors and faulty products with total quality management.

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Put the Taylor theory of management to work through business process re-engineering

If you've ever stared at a production diagram and wished you could start all over, business process re-engineering, or BPR, is for you. BPR uses Frederick Taylor's theory of scientific management to take apart a production system, reduce it to its smallest parts, develop training for each part, and put the parts back together so that they flow naturally into one efficient process.

I recommend: See "How Important is Business Process Re-engineering?," at EzineArticles.com for an overview of BPR basics. At CIMware USA you can review and order different BPR case studies and training tools.

Share employee knowledge in quality circles inspired by Frederick Taylor management theory

How often do you find out that people are performing the same task in three different ways, or that one group has come up with a time-saver that only they know about? Quality circles, inspired by Taylor management theories, bring employees together to share what they know and get everyone on the same page. When everyone shares best practices, productivity increases.

I recommend: For an in-depth description of quality circles, go to "Quality Circles" at Enotes.com. The Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Management blog has many entries on quality circles.

Use Taylor's theory of management to work to gain Total Quality Management

Quality control requires both top-down and bottom-up commitment. Total Quality Management, or TQM, applies a lesser-known aspect of Taylor's theory of management, which is that managers have to be as knowledgeable about product and process as the people under them.

I recommend: See BPIR.com for an in-depth profile of TQM theory. The Baldridge National Quality Program from the National Institute of Standards and Technology offers general business criteria for quality, or excellence, assessment, as well as criteria for the health care and education industries.

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• •  Taylor management theories on quality circles and TQM were first used most notably in Japan, and are credited with building Toyota and Honda into global powerhouses whose cars are nearly flawless.

The management theory of Frederick Taylor continues to provide help to managers determined to achieve the goal of efficiency in any organization. Taylor's ideas and work reached the highest levels in government circles while he was alive because he suggested that an organization should benefit the workers as well as management and investors. Taylor carefully studied procedures to tap the potential of workers while earning maximum profits for each organization.

Taylor trained as an engineer and scientist and adopted methods of organization management based on this background. In his writings, he notes that the management of organizational behavior is a science with rules, principles and laws like chemistry and physics.

1. Fredrick Taylor found respect in the United States and in many industrial powers around the world.

2. Taylor was a pioneer of conservation, and Frederick Taylor’s theory of scientific management provided preliminary insight for preserving resources.

3. Taylor wrote about the dangers of squandering natural resources and the efforts of human beings.

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Study the influence of the management theories of Frederick Taylor

Frederick Taylor was an engineer with a keen scientific mind, and his management theories weave scientific principles with management principles for maximum success. Managers and workers have often felt that their interests were antagonistic, but Taylor wrote extensively about methods for meshing the goals of management and labor. Although Taylor never maintained that harmonious relations and success would be constant, he provided guidance to work toward benefits for all in an organization.

I recommend: Modern History Sourcebook provides details of Frederick Taylors theory. The Wall Street Journal Bookshelf remains a favorite for information on management in general and Taylor’s management theory in particular.

Develop goals using Frederick Taylor Management Theory

Taylor was devoted to harmonious relations in an organization so each manager should learn from his writing. Business leaders, educational administrators and government officials should use Frederick Taylor's management theory to work for harmonious working conditions and optimum success. The workers in organizations are more educated than those when Fredrick Taylor lived but managers can use Taylor management theories to set goals of harmony and efficiency in a modern workplace.

I recommend: Accel Team Development has information about the theories of Fredrick Taylor. The Management and Accounting Web provides insight for managers intent on using the theories of Fredrick Taylor in the modern organization.

Consult with experts to revise rules using Taylors scientific management theory

Taylor studied work performance and the necessary time to complete a task. He revised some organizational expectations based on his findings. Although times and workers have changed, managers follow Taylor's research on performance and adapt procedures based on their findings.

I recommend: Net MBA educates managers and leaders interested in running a profitable organization. Charles V. Schaefer School of Engineering and Science trains people in Taylors theory of management.