Scientific Management Theory's Impact on Work Design in Tesco

This essay examines the influence of scientific management theory on the work design at Tesco, a leading retail firm. The introduction highlights the importance of management theories for business success. The main body analyzes the positive impacts of scientific management on Tesco's productivity, including improved efficiency through task analysis and division of labor. It also discusses the theory's strengths, such as the separation of planning from execution, functional foremanship, and the use of time, motion, and fatigue studies to optimize work processes. Additionally, the essay explores the weaknesses of the theory, such as potential for worker dissatisfaction and the limitations for small enterprises. The conclusion emphasizes the role of scientific management in enhancing decision-making and resource utilization, ultimately contributing to Tesco's long-term success. The essay references several academic sources to support its analysis.

Essay Questions

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Influence of Scientific Management on design of work in Tesco...............................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
To lead a business towards positive direction, it is essential for the business as
well as manager to follow best management theories and in the same way, current
research report also provides a deep understanding related to scientific management
on the design of work. The chosen firm for this report is Tesco which is one of the top
leading firm in retail sector. Further, the report will describe the influence of theory of
Scientific Management on design of work in Tesco by analysing strength and
weaknesses.
MAIN BODY
Influence of Scientific Management on design of work in Tesco
Scientific Management is the theory of management that analyse as well as
synthesize the workflows and the main purpose of using this theory is such that it helps
to improve the financial performance of the company by especially focusing on labour
productivity. Thus, scientific theory is a management theory that which mainly determine
workflows and process with a goal of making them more effective. Thus, it shows that
the influence of scientific management theory is positive for Tesco's Work design
because it leads to increase productivity (Waring, 2016). For example, leader of Tesco
study on activity of workers and then discover the method which helps to make work
more easy. Through this, they also analysed that by analysing ways of maximizing
productivity, company will definitely grow at further level of success. It is so because
when productivity increases, it directly creates impact upon the profitability of Tesco
and as a result, it makes organization better to compete at global level.
On the other side, it is also analysed that development of offshore market is also
consider one of the important development for modern organization and as a result, this
theory measure most effective and cost efficient products which are offered to the
customers. The influence of scientific management theory is also analysed by total
quality because it is the direct result of a scientific management and there are many
principles of quality improvement which is originated from Scientific theory (Merkle,
2018). In the same way, Tesco also implemented the theory in order to improve the
quality of their products as well as services by stressing on quality improvement
techniques. Thus, it is clearly reflect that the theory helps to create a relationship with
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today's environment as well because it improve the production efficiency which is
consider starting point for Scientific management theory. As Tesco also divides into
several department and by implementing the same theory at working place will allow a
firm to divide the task of whole organization into manageable sub task so that the
employees feels themselves responsible.
As the theory was based on the work performed within a firm and it also consist
of tools, methods and organizational arrangement which helps to increase the efficiency
and speed in order to attain the define aim and objectives. For example, in order to
attain the specific objectives within 6 month, leader of Tesco build team of 20 members
and also delegate the roles and responsibilities into their team members. So that it will
be beneficial for the members to work together and as a result, it directly creates
positive impact upon the firm productivity into positive way. Therefore, it reflect that
dividing work between workers and supervisors is consider another result of scientific
management theory (Chang, 2016). That is why, the theory is known as a basis of
productivity improvement that leads modern organization to sustain its brand image at
international level.
On the other side, the theory also helps in financial control and it provides an
insight overview to the managers to take some action for controlling. The theory also
provides deep information on which the organization is working so that it helps the firm
to generate best results for the welfare of the company (Turan, 2015). The theory also
contributes to major improvement in the physical working environment of employees
within a working place so that employees may easily comfortable in the working area
and the workloads also manages, that directly creates positive impact upon the
company's overall performance. As the theory clearly replaces old system of
management of rule of thumb and introduces new scientific method that helps to reduce
time and eliminate waste as well.
Thus, this all clearly shows that by implement or complying with scientific
management theory, Tesco will definitely helps to remove most of the causes for
industrial disputes and unrest so that it grow the company for further level of success
(Liu and et.al., 2015).
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discuss influence of scientific management theory, By referring theory's strength and
weaknesses,
Strengths of Tesco scientific management theories for Tesco
Scientific management is a theory of management that analyses and synthesizes workflow. Tesco
can use scientific management theories to improve the efficiency of each and every individual in
the organization. Since Tesco is a multinational company the major emphasis of scientific
management is on production through the use of intensive technology, and machines are
considered to be a replacement of humans.
The major principles of scientific management that can be used by Tesco to there advantage are
given below :
 With the help of scientific management Tesco can separate planning from doing the
work, this will lead to Tesco have segregation of duties between those who plan and
those who execute the plan. So different person will be responsible for the duties they are
allotted to and no one will be able to escape there mistakes.
 Tesco can have the functional foreman-ship of supervision which are having the 8
supervisors required to guide the employees to the correct direction and instruct them in
there respective field. This will help Tesco in building an organised taskforce. An
organised taskforce will complete there task with at most efficiency and effectiveness.
 Tesco can use the time, motion and fatigue studies to determine the standard time for
every task required so this will help in saving time and cost of Tesco. Time study help in
determining the time required to complete a repetitive task, so this will standardise time
for that task and Tesco can be sure about the time to be devoted to a particular work,
motion study determines the best method of doing the work by scrutinizing
the motions made by the worker or the machine and fatigue study examines
how fatigue affects productivity. Reducing fatigue at workplace has been the key aim of
every organisation as it affects productivity adversely. These studies therefore pays more
attention on the standardization of working methods and hence the scientific management
theory laid emphasis on this aspect.
 There will be proper scientific selection of the employees and this will lead to choosing
the right employee for the right job and give them proper training so this will again
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reduce the cost incurred to Tesco. A well trained and suited employee will complete the
given task to him/her with the least time and will give the best result to Tesco.
 At last the financial incentives are given in scientific management so that the recruited
taskforce remain motivated to perform well in the organization. These financial
incentives may include bonuses given to achieve the given target. A motivated task force
will provide more fruitful result compared to an unmotivated staff. If staff at Tesco is
demotivated then there will be large staff turnover and the brand image will be
deteriorated.
So it concludes that scientific management theories focuses on technical aspects of efficiency
rather than the broader aspects of human behaviour in Tesco.
Weaknesses
In terms of scientific management theory, it is becoming criticism that applicable of workers but
industrial and employees are questioning about the validity of scientific management. It
influencing in negative terms where increasing cost and price of organizational structure,
unsuitable for small enterprises, fail to achieve desirable results or outcomes. On the other hand,
the weakness is loss of individuals initiative that tends to destroy the employees, render to
useless of their skill because it covert into the automatic machines. Therefore, it also affects on
the speed of employees and not properly lead to high output but only create the harmful mental
conditions in employee.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above discussion that decision making process plays an
important role in making the business successful. Thus use of scientific management
theory can help organisations to enhance the effectiveness of their decision. It has been
also analysed from the above discussion that with proper application of scientific
management theory it is possible for the organisation to assess all possible aspects of
the decisions. It helps to properly utilise the organisational resources and to minimise
the risk factors. Thus it can be concluded from the study that for the long term success
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in business organisations must integrate their long term objectives and appropriate
management theory.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Waring, S. P., 2016. Taylorism transformed: Scientific management theory since 1945.
UNC Press Books.
Merkle, J. A., 2018. Scientific management. In Defining Public Administration (pp. 169-
179). Routledge.
Chang, J. F., 2016. Business process management systems: strategy and
implementation. Auerbach Publications.
Turan, H., 2015. Taylor's Scientific Management Principles": Contemporary Issues in
Personnel Selection Period. Journal of economics, business and
management.3(11). pp.1102-1105.
Liu, J. and et.al., 2015. A survey of data-intensive scientific workflow
management. Journal of Grid Computing. 13(4). pp.457-493.
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