Scientific management is one stream of the ________ school of management thought. The other two streams of this school are Fayol’s Administrative Theory and Max Weber’s Bureaucracy.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Classical
Option (1) Neo classical — Incorrect. The Neo Classical Theory is the human relations approach of the 1920s to 1950s. It drew attention to the social needs and attitudes of employees, as in the Hawthorne Studies. It came after the classical school, as a reaction to it, while Taylor belongs to that earlier school.
Option (2) Behavioural science — Incorrect. This approach, called organisational humanism, used psychology, sociology and anthropology to study people at work. It grew out of the human relations school, so it came even later than Taylor, Fayol and Weber.
Option (3) Modern management — Incorrect. Modern management sees organisations as complex systems and uses the contingency approach. It is the latest phase, long after Taylor’s work.
Option (4) Classical — Correct. The classical school belongs to the era of the industrial revolution. It has three streams: Taylor’s scientific management, Fayol’s administrative theory and Max Weber’s bureaucracy.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Taylor’s Scientific Management Scientific management refers to an important stream of one of the earlier schools of thought of management referred to as the ‘Classical’ school. The other two streams belonging to the classical school are Fayol’s Administrative Theory and Max Weber’s Bureaucracy. We will not be describing bureaucracy here. A discussion of Fayol’s principles, however, will follow the discussion of scientific management. …” |