Final answer:
Frederick Taylor invented the time study as part of his scientific management theory to standardize and incentivize employee productivity, paying employees for their efficiency and the quality of their work.
Step-by-step explanation:
Frederick Taylor invented the time study and introduced a pay system based on it. The correct answer to your question is A. employees for their work. Taylor's approach, known as Taylorism or scientific management, aimed to improve efficiency by meticulously studying every aspect of the production process. He employed time and motion studies to eliminate unnecessary steps and optimized workers' movements to ensure maximum productivity.
Through Taylor's system, workers were incentivized to work more efficiently since higher productivity could potentially lead to increased earnings. Those who worked faster and more effectively than a standard 'first-class man' could earn more, while slower workers could earn less. Taylor believed this system would lead to the best outcomes for both the employer, in the form of increased profits, and for the employees, through possible increased wages.
However, Taylor's system also faced criticism. It was seen by some as a way to exploit labor by reducing the workforce and stripping workers of autonomy. Despite this, proponents argued that it increased industrial efficiency and workers' pay through improved productivity, aligning with the Progressive Era's values of efficiency and scientific approach to management.