Final answer:
Frederick W. Taylor is most closely associated with the management theory that focuses on efficiency by identifying the most effective practices for organizing and managing a business through his work on scientific management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual most closely associated with the theory of management focusing on identifying the most effective practices for organizing and managing a business is Frederick W. Taylor.
Taylor, an engineer from Pennsylvania, advocated for the scientific management of industry. He published his ideas in his work The Principles of Scientific Management in 1911, where he emphasized the importance of efficiency in business by carefully studying every aspect of the production processes to improve effectiveness and reduce waste. His approach aimed at maximizing profit for the employer and simultaneously providing optimal outcomes for the employees by training and developing their skills to optimize performance through the use of time-motion studies.
Although Taylor's methods, commonly referred to as Taylorism, were not universally accepted, especially by the workers who often resented the loss of work autonomy, his contributions have had a significant and lasting influence on management theory. Business leaders recognized the potential of his ideas, and they were integrated into the broader context of Industrial and Organizational psychology and management practices.