Harrington Emerson

Harrington Emerson is one of the representatives of the universalist trend. The basis of his concept is the concept of efficiency, which he presented in his greatest work entitled "Twelve principles of performance". It defines effectiveness there as a "ratio to a certain percentage".

Principles of performance

In addition, it presents twelve principles of performance:

1. A clearly defined goal. This is by far the most important principle. It is fundamental in managing people, but also in achieving high efficiency by the company. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly define the basic objective of the activity and at the same time beware of the general phenomenon which is obstructing the main objective by a number of apparent goals.
2. Common sense. It allows you to accept everything that is necessary and useful, and at the same time eliminate what hinders our attainment of the goal.
3. Professional advice. Each governing body should have special experts, so that it does not get stuck in knowledge from the past week, month, year, decade or past century.
4. Discipline. It can be considered in three senses: adapting to the requirements of the environment, adapting to the order of life, adapting to the penalty for inappropriate behavior. In order to teach discipline to the employees, the management itself should work conscientiously, diligently and with enthusiasm, and fulfill its duties towards subordinates.
5. Square deal. Follow the "act with people as you want it to be done with you" principle.
6. Reliable, fast, accurate and parametric reports.
7. Time schedule of the course of action. The course of action should be precisely determined.
8. Patterns and standards. Requirements must be tailored to the individual and vice versa. Emerson, unlike Taylor, matches patterns to existing, average conditions.
9. Adaptation of conditions. To make the most of your opportunities, you must "adapt yourself so that you can dispose of external factors or adapt external conditions so that the person becomes the axis around which everything revolves."
10. Model work methods. Determining them is necessary if we want to achieve satisfactory results.
11. Written instructions. These are work regulations containing mainly requests and warnings. Without them, no undertaking is possible.
12. Performance award. It is necessary to introduce an appropriate system of remuneration for work. Emerson offers promising bonuses for 68% of the standard's performance. The range from 68% to 100% divides the thresholds, which each allocates an adequate remuneration.

It is important that the company implements all these principles. Only then will it function efficiently.

Emerson's views have gained a lot of publicity and recognition. Today, he is considered a precursor of the method of management by objectives.

Examples of Harrington Emerson achievements

• Harrington Emerson was an American engineer and management consultant who popularized the use of scientific methods in industrial efficiency. He studied the work of Frederick Winslow Taylor and developed his own management theories, which he published in the book, Twelve Principles of Efficiency. He became known for his leadership role in the development of motion and time study, which was used to reduce the time and cost of production.
• Emerson also developed a system for analyzing the efficiency of managerial decisions and practices. This system, which he called the "Organizational Chart," was used as a tool for managers to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of their organizations. He also developed a series of techniques for organizing production processes and establishing standards for quality control.
• Emerson's most famous contribution to the field of industrial efficiency was his concept of the "Law of the Limit." This law states that the maximum efficiency of any process is limited by the weakest link in the chain. Emerson argued that managers should focus on identifying and eliminating the weakest links in their processes in order to achieve the highest possible efficiency.
• Emerson was also a strong advocate of workplace safety, and he developed a system of safety standards that is still in use today. He argued that companies should invest in the safety of their employees, as it would result in improved productivity and lower costs in the long run.

Advantages of Harrington Emerson

Harrington Emerson's concept of efficiency offers many advantages. These include:

• An emphasis on the importance of analyzing and measuring performance in order to achieve desired results. Emerson's concept of efficiency involves the use of performance indicators to determine how well a task is being done, and to identify areas for improvement.
• A focus on the importance of streamlining processes and eliminating redundant activities. Emerson advocated for the use of systems and processes which reduce the amount of time and effort needed to reach the desired goal.
• A holistic approach to efficiency, which takes into account not only the financial costs of an activity but also its social and environmental impacts. Emerson was a proponent of sustainable efficiency, which considers the effects of a process on the environment and society as a whole.
• An understanding of the importance of human resources in achieving efficiency. Emerson recognized the need for a comprehensive system of rewards, training, and recognition in order to motivate employees and maximize their performance.

Limitations of Harrington Emerson approach

Harrington Emerson's concept of efficiency has its limitations. These include:

• Focusing too heavily on maximum efficiency: In his work, Emerson puts heavy emphasis on the need for maximum efficiency, which can be detrimental to an organization. While efficiency is an important factor, it should not be the only factor that an organization considers when making decisions.
• Ignoring the importance of culture: Emerson's concept of efficiency ignores the importance of culture in an organization. Culture is an important factor in determining how effective an organization can be, and it should be taken into account when making decisions.
• Lack of emphasis on innovation: While Emerson’s concept of efficiency does consider innovation, it does not emphasize it as much as it should. Innovation is an important factor in an organization’s success, and it should be taken into account when making decisions.
• Ignoring the importance of human resources: Emerson’s concept of efficiency does not take into account the importance of human resources. Human resources are an important factor in an organization’s success, and they should be taken into account when making decisions.

Other approaches related to Harrington Emerson

Harrington Emerson's concept of efficiency is one of the most influential principles in the universalist trend. Other approaches related to this concept include:

• The principles of scientific management developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor, which focus on increasing the efficiency of production through careful analysis and management of work processes.
• The Hawthorne studies, which sought to understand the psychological effects of work and its impact on productivity.
• The concept of bureaucracy developed by Max Weber, which emphasizes the importance of an efficient and rational system of organization.
• The idea of human relations management, which focuses on improving employee morale and job satisfaction in order to increase productivity.

Together, these approaches form a comprehensive approach to improving efficiency in the workplace. Through their emphasis on careful analysis, rational organization, and improved employee morale, these approaches have been immensely influential in the development of modern management theory.

Harrington Emerson — recommended articles

Management functions — Principles of scientific management — Models of strategic personnel management — Frank Bunker Gilbreth — Theory of management — Deming 14 points — Origin and development of the management science — Behavioral school — Armand Feigenbaum

References

• McKenna, C. D. (1995). The origins of modern management consulting. Business and Economic History, 51-58.
• Harrington Emerson - Wikipedia