Scientific Management Theory and The Ford （科学管理理论和福特）.pdf

Scientific Management Theory and the Ford Motor Company Overview During the early 20th century, Frederick Winslow Taylor developed a number of management and organizational theories that led to significant breakthroughs in business practices. Since that era, levels of industrial manufacturing have grown exponentially throughout much of the world. Taylor’s ideas have dramatically shaped modern methods of mass production and structural organization. Around the same time that Taylor started experimenting with his theories, the prominent businessman Henry Ford was hard at work developing several of his now infamous automobiles. Ford named these cars alphabetically from A to S. According to The Case Files: Henry Ford, published by The Franklin Institute, Ford’s most successful car was the Model T, which began production in 1908 (The Franklin Institute) – just a few years before Taylor published his seminal work, Principles of Scientific Management, in 1911. Implementing Taylor’s theories, Ford Motor Company ultimately produced over 15 million Model Ts between 1908 and 1927 (ibid). As you will explore in greater detail later in this reading, Henry Ford’s ambitious production efforts decreased the cost of production, which allowed for lower prices in the market place . Ford’s goal was to create “a motor car for the great multitude” (ibid) and make automobile travel available and affordable for everyone. “When I’m through,” he said, “just about everyone will have one” (ibid). In this reading, we will explore how Frederick Winslow Taylor’s scientific management theory enabled Ford to develop the assembly line and successfully realize his goal of bringing car travel to the masses. Early History In 1903, Henry Ford formed a business partn