Final answer:
Frederick W. Taylor presented his scientific management theory, or Taylorism, in the book 'The Principles of Scientific Management' in 1911, which advocated for maximizing efficiency by analyzing and optimizing work processes. Despite boosting productivity and wages, it was controversial to potentially exploit workers and reduce their autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Frederick W. Taylor conveyed his theory, commonly referred to as Taylorism or scientific management, through his pivotal book titled The Principles of Scientific Management, published in 1911. Taylor, an engineer from Pennsylvania, used his extensive studies of steel mills to inform his theories about workplace efficiency. He believed that careful and scientific study of every element of the production process could lead to significant improvements by eliminating unnecessary steps and optimizing workers' movements.
One concrete example entailed analyzing the tasks of workers who handled heavy iron ingots, demonstrating that strategically timed rests could drastically improve productivity. Despite the evident increases in efficiency and benefits for both employees and employers, Taylor's theory was controversial for potentially exploiting workers and possibly reducing the workforce.
Taylor broke down work into a series of individual tasks, measured them through time-motion studies, and then reorganized them for maximum efficiency. This approach won favor among some business leaders and Progressive reformers but faced resistance from workers and unions who felt dehumanized by the new system. The efficiency gains, however, sometimes led to benefits such as increased wages and lower consumer prices.