How Scientific Management Changed the Way We Work

Wharton professor Peter Cappelli reflects on the history and impact of scientific management as part of Knowledge at Wharton's "American Business Innovation" series ahead of the USA's 250th anniversary. He explains how Frederick Taylor's principles of scientific management – also known as Taylorism – transformed workplace productivity, organizational design, and modern management practices.

Cappelli is the George W. Taylor Professor of Management at The Wharton School and Director of Wharton’s Center for Human Resources. He was recently named by HR Magazine as one of the top 5 most influential management thinkers, by NPR as one of the 50 influencers in the field of aging, and was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. He is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal and writes a monthly column for HR Executive magazine. His recent work on performance management, agile systems, and hiring practices, and other workplace topics appears in the Harvard Business Review.

ABOUT THE SERIES As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, hear from Wharton faculty experts as they explore the American business innovations that transformed industries, reshaped markets, and changed the way the world works. From the assembly line and modern branding to the internet and artificial intelligence, this series examines the ideas and institutions that helped define American enterprise and continue to influence business today.

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