Management and Ideology: The Legacy of the International Scientific Management Movement

Scientific Management has grown into the major technocratic ideology of the twentieth century, influencing industrial productivity, the social fabric of industrial society, and the nature of government. This study compares the writings of the American, German, French, British, and Soviet vanguards of Scientific Management and finds that they were visionaries who sought to reconcile class conflict, restructure government, and create a universal technocratic utopia.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Scientific Management, originating as a system for organizing machine shops, has emerged as the dominant technocratic ideology of the twentieth century. Its evolution and global dissemination have exerted profound impacts on industrial productivity, the social structure of industrial society, and the nature of governance. In this comprehensive examination of the movement's growth, Merkle compares the writings of the American, German, French, British, and Soviet vanguards of Scientific Management and discovers that those advocating efficiency engineering were far more than pragmatists seeking immediate technical solutions to production challenges. Rather, they were visionaries who aspired to reconcile class conflicts, restructure government, and establish a universal technocratic utopia through the attainment of efficient mass production and rationalized distribution.

A pervasive call for a mental revolution, resonating throughout their writings, found supporters among capitalists and socialists alike. This revolution not only reshaped the structure of modern industrialism but also had a profound effect on the organization of the state itself.

This title is part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, which celebrates the University of California Press' commitment to identifying and nurturing the most brilliant minds and providing them with a platform to articulate their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a lasting impact. Drawing from a backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived utilizes print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again. Originally published in 1980, this title is now revitalized and available to a new generation of scholars and enthusiasts.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520358645