Frederick Winslow Taylor

Biography

Born in Philadelphia in 1856, Frederick Winslow Taylor trained as a machinist and engineer before turning his analytical mind to the problems of industrial labor. He sought to bring order and fairness to factories through close observation, time studies, and careful experimentation, believing that both workers and companies benefited from a scientific approach to managing labor.

His 1911 book, The Principles of Scientific Management, spread these ideas widely and sparked debates that shaped 20th-century management, while also inspiring efforts to build more cooperative relationships between managers and employees. Though his methods were sometimes controversial, his emphasis on efficiency coupled with respect for skilled workers left a lasting imprint on industry and on how the workplace was understood.