Frederick W.

Taylor
Biodata
Frederick Winslow Taylor (March 20, 1856 March 21, 1915),
universally known as the Father of Scientific Management was
born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 1865
into well-off family. His father, Franklin Taylor, was a graduate of
Princeton University and a lawyer, and his mother, Emily Annette
Taylor, was an abolitionist and feminist. The family members were
devoted Quakers and the upbringing and values created a welldisciplined young man who was ambitious and planned his future.
Taylor was married to Louise M. Spooner of Philadelphia, with whom
he had no children since all of his three children were adopted.
Taylor was educated early by his mother and also studied in both
Germany and France. In 1872 Taylor attended Phillips Exeter
Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. His plan was to enter Harvard
and become a lawyer just like his father. However, Taylor had a
different calling and thus became an apprentice at Enterprise
Hydraulic Works in Philadelphia where he gained shop-floor
experience as a machinist. Having completed his apprenticeship in
1878, Taylor became a machine-shop laborer at Midvale Steel Works
and quickly flew through the ranks because of his extensive
understanding and efficient managerial insights and practices. He
was time clerk, journeyman machinist, gang boss over the lathe
hands, machine shop foreman, research director, and became the
chief engineer soon thereafter. With a deep focus on efficiency, as
shop foreman, Taylor studied and analyzed the productivity of both
the men and the machines he worked with. This focus on the human
element of production gave rise to what is known as Scientific
Management. In 1883, Taylor earned a degree in mechanical
engineering through correspondence from the Stevens Institute of
Technology.

Taylor was not only a pioneer of efficiency, but the effective

management of mechanical systems and people to increase
productivity in organizations. Taylor also worked as a general
manager and a consulting engineer for the Manufacturing
Investment Company of Philadelphia, where he advised the
companys management. This position lasted for about 3 years,
from 1890-1893, after which he opened his own independent
consulting practice in Philadelphia. Taylor also worked at Bethlehem
Steel Company in 1898 where he used his expertise to resolve
machine efficiency and productivity and capacity problems.
However, this did not last for long, so in 1901 Taylor resigned from
the company and began focusing on marketing and promoting his
scientific management strategies and ideas. As part of this effort,

Taylor created The Principles of Scientific Management and was

awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the University
of Pennsylvania. Taylor eventually became a Professor, teaching and
researching at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Taylor died shortly after his 59th birthday on March 21, 1915 after
developing pneumonia. The Father of Scientific Management,
Frederick Winslow Taylor was laid to rest at West Laurel Hill
Cemetery, Pennsylvania. However, his accomplishments and great
impact on our management and business practices will continue to
shape leaders, managers, and organizations as we proceed into an
uncertain future.