Final answer:
The correct answer is option e Frederick Taylor's Scientific Management is epitomized by the term 'efficiency,' as his approach was designed to maximize productivity and profitability by optimizing every aspect of the production process through time and motion studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of Frederick Taylor's Scientific Management, introduced in the early 20th century, can be summarized by a key principle that aimed to revolutionize industrial efficiency. The crux of Taylor's method was to conduct time and motion studies that would streamline production processes by eliminating wasteful actions. Through the careful breaking down of tasks into smaller, more manageable parts, Taylor envisioned a working environment where every motion and every second counted, driving both productivity and profitability. His approach placed emphasis on the scientific analysis of labor to optimize worker performance and implement standardized methods.
This attention to detail and pursuit of efficiency came at a cost to personal interaction among workers and between workers and managers. It transformed the workplace into a far more mechanical domain, where employees would often feel like mere cogs in a larger, impersonal machine. Despite the potential for improving wages due to increased productivity, this also led to a decrease in workers' autonomy and the dehumanization of their roles within the workplace.
Considering the principles laid out by Frederick Taylor, the summary of his approach would best align with the notion of efficiency. This focus was designed to benefit both the employer, through increased profitability, and theoretically, the employee through potential wage improvements stemming from heightened productivity levels.
Therefore, the correct option that would summarize Frederick Taylor's Scientific Management is:
e. efficiency.