Final answer:
Frederick W. Taylor is recognized as the father of scientific management, known for his influential approach to industrial efficiency, which encompassed systematic workflow studies and stressed the overarching role of management in determining work routines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The father of scientific management is Frederick W. Taylor. An engineer hailing from Pennsylvania, Taylor reshaped industrial productivity through his concept of scientific management, which he detailed in his seminal work, The Principles of Scientific Management, published in 1911. Scientific management emphasizes the use of systematic studies of work methods and time-motion studies to improve efficiency by eliminating unnecessary motions and simplifying tasks, which can lead to profitability for businesses and improved working conditions for employees. He became known for his "stop-watch management" approach that turned production processes into efficient operations. His efforts involved meticulously timing each segment of work with a stopwatch, thus revolutionizing the way tasks were performed within the industrial context. Taylor's approach stressed that management should be the decision-maker regarding work routines, thus dramatically changing the role of workers within the factory setting.