Fayol's vs Taylor's - A comparison

Fayol's vs Taylor's  - A comparison:

F.W.Taylor and Henri Fayol are associated with the classical management theory. Both of them contributed immensely towards the study of management as a discipline. The principles of Taylor and Fayol are mutually complementary to each other in following terms:

Concern– Taylor’s principles and techniques are concerned with workers efficiency while Fayol’s are concerned with the overall efficiency of management.

Focus – Both Taylor and Fayol advocated division of work and specialization. Taylor’s techniques follow bottom upward approach, whereas Fayol’sare based on the top downward approach. Taylor’s techniques are mainly with production activities, whereas Fayol’s have relevance in all functional areas. Taylors’ techniques are more specific while Fayols’ are more general and flexible in nature.

Beginning– Taylor started with improving the efficiency of operational workers at the shop level and later gave the principles if scientific management, while Fayol began by describing the functions of top management and then proceeded downward.

Emphasis – Taylor emphasized on standardization of work, methods and tools, time and motion study and scientific training of workers. But Fayol stressed upon the principles and theory of general administration and also the functions of managers.

Comparison Chart – Comparison between Taylor and Fayol Approach

BASIS FOR COMPARISON	HENRY FAYOL	F.W. TAYLOR
Meaning	Henry Fayol, is a father of modern management who laid down fourteen principles of management, for improving overall administration.	F.W. Taylor, is a father of scientific management who introduced four principles of management, for increasing overall productivity.
Concept	General theory of administration	Scientific Management
Emphasis	Top level management	Low level management
Applicability	Universally applicable	Applies to specialized organizations only.
Basis of formation	Personal Experience	Observation and Experimentation
Orientation	Managerial function	Production and Engineering
System of Wage Payment	Sharing of profit with managers.	Differential Payment System
Approach	Manager’s approach	Engineer’s approach

Key Differences Between Fayol and Taylor’s Theory of Management

The difference between Fayol and Taylor’s Theory of Management, are explained in the points presented below:

1. Henry Fayol is a father of modern management who enunciated fourteen principles of management, for improving overall administration. As against, F.W. Taylor is a father of scientific management who developed four principles of management, for increasing overall productivity.
2. Henry Fayol introduced the concept of General theory of administration. F.W. Taylor laid down the concept of Scientific Management.
3. Henry Fayol emphasized the working of top level management, whereas F.W. Taylor stressed on the working of production level management.
4. Fayol’s management theory has universal applicability. Unlike Taylor, whose management theory applies to a number of organizations only.
5. The basis of formation of Fayol’s theory is the personal experience. Conversely, Taylor’s principles rely on observation and experimentation.
6. Fayol is oriented towards managerial function. On the contrary, Taylor focussed on production and engineering.
7. The system of wage payment determined by Taylor is differential piece rate system, while Fayol stressed on sharing of profits with managers.
8. The approach of Taylor is termed as Engineer’s approach. In contrast, Fayol’s approach is accepted as manager’s approach.