Question

Which of the following developments related to the historical evolution of operations management is the oldest?

A.The human relations movement advocated by Mayo, Maslow, and Hertzberg.
B.The introduction of the moving assembly line by Henry Ford.
C.Scientific management principles espoused by Frederick Taylor.
D.The principle of division of labour documented in Adam Smith's book The Wealth of Nations.
E.The influence of Japanese management practices.

Answer 1

The oldest development in the historical evolution of operations management is the division of labour principle by Adam Smith, predating Taylor's scientific management and other mentioned developments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The oldest development related to the historical evolution of operations management among the options provided is D. The principle of division of labour documented in Adam Smith's book The Wealth of Nations. Adam Smith's work dates back to 1776, which predates the other developments such as the introduction of the moving assembly line by Henry Ford, the scientific management principles espoused by Frederick Taylor, the human relations movement, and the influence of Japanese management practices.

While Frederick Taylor's contribution to operations management through scientific management principles in his 1911 book, The Principles of Scientific Management, was significant, it came much later than Adam Smith's principle of division of labour. Taylor's principles revolutionized industrial production by emphasizing efficiency through time-motion studies and the standardization of tasks.