Economic efficiency is important when executing projects since it helps maximize profitability. Scientific management is a theory that involves the analysis and synthesis of workflows (Mumby & Kuhn, 2019). The theory’s main objective is to improve economic efficiency through labor productivity. Although the theory majorly applies to engineering processes, non-technical organizations such as criminal justice organizations can adopt it. Frederick Winslow Taylor proposes four basic principles of scientific management that must be adopted to improve organizational economic efficiency (Mumby & Kuhn, 2019). These principles are common at my workplace and have been crucial in decision-making. Frederick Winslow Taylor’s theory of scientific management helps criminal justice organizations improve their profitability.
Understanding employees’ capabilities are crucial for job description and improving productivity. The first principle of scientific management is the use of scientific methods when determining and standardizing an individual’s best way of doing their job (Mumby & Kuhn, 2019). Criminal justice organizations use surveys and complex scientific systems to measure employee performance (Levy et al., 2021). Consequently, employees are assigned tasks that they are good at and trained on those that they find difficult. The second principle of the theory is a clear tasks and responsibilities division. In the criminal justice system, the different stakeholders are given their specific tasks. For instance, the investigators are solely involved in forensic analysis and collecting evidence.
Increased payments motivate employees to improve their routine activities at work. The third principle states that high-performing employees should be paid higher than others (Webster et al., 2022). Employees who greatly contribute to organizational performance deserve high pays to maintain the trend. The last principle involves a hierarchy of authority and strict employee surveillance (Webster et al., 2022). The courts have a hierarchical system that involves the Supreme Court at the apex. Supervisors and managers instruct the employees at lower levels to perform in the interest of their organization. For me working within the criminal justice system, as a secretary, the third principle of high payment for high-performing employees, is most essential. Annually, the best performing secretaries are promoted and given more privileges such as salary increments. Thus, the scientific management theory helps organizations focus on economically productive approaches.
References
Levy, K., Chasalow, K. E., & Riley, S. (2021). Algorithms and decision-making in the public sector. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 17(1), 309–334. Web.
Mumby, D. K., & Kuhn, T. R. (2019). Organizational communication: A critical introduction. (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Webster, B. D., Greenbaum, R. L., Mawritz, M. B., & Reid, R. J. (2022). Powerful, high-performing employees and psychological entitlement: The detrimental effects on citizenship behaviors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 136, 103725. Web.