Final answer:
Frederick W. Taylor advocated for scientific management, aiming to boost industrial efficiency by analyzing and optimizing task sequences. His 'Taylorism' significantly influenced management practices despite criticism over its impact on workers' well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
Frederick W. Taylor is most commonly associated with the onset of scientific management, a doctrine that emphasized efficiency and productivity in the workplace. Often referred to as 'Taylorism,' Taylor's scientific management was not about behavior but about optimizing work processes and labor productivity. As a mechanical engineer, Taylor conducted detailed time-motion studies that broke down tasks into smaller segments, aiming to eliminate unnecessary steps and wasted motions for enhancing industrial efficiency. This pursuit of efficiency often came at the cost of the workers' well-being, leading to criticisms from unions and labor advocates.
Taylor's approach was seen in the context of the Progressive Era, aiming to apply scientific methods to business and governance. His 1911 book, 'The Principles of Scientific Management,' became seminal in this field, often ensuing controversy among the workforce due to increased regulatory control over work methods and the dehumanization of labor into machine-like functions. Despite such criticisms, Taylorism had a profound impact on the development of modern management practices.