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Nature, Need and Taylor's Principles ISC Class 12

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CommerceISC Class 12 · Principles of Management

Nature, Need of Principles and Taylor's Scientific Management (ISC Class 12)

Updated 18 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Principles of management are general, flexible, behavioural guidelines, formed by practice and experiment, universally applicable and contingent, but not as exact as science because they deal with human behaviour. Taylor's five principles of scientific management are science not rule of thumb, harmony not discord, cooperation not individualism, maximum output in place of restricted output, and development of each person to his greatest efficiency and prosperity.

Each of Taylor's five principles replaces a poor old habit (red) with a better one (green): science, harmony, cooperation, maximum output, development.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management

1. Nature of principles

  • Universal applicability: apply to all kinds of organisations, though to varying degrees.
  • General guidelines: they guide action; they do not give ready-made solutions.
  • Formed by practice and experimentation: developed from experience and research.
  • Flexible: can be modified to suit the situation.
  • Mainly behavioural: they influence human behaviour.
  • Cause-and-effect relationship: they tell what is likely to happen if applied.
  • Contingent: application depends on the situation.

They are not as accurate as the principles of natural science because they deal with human behaviour, which is unpredictable.

2. Need for principles

  • Useful insights into reality for managers.
  • Optimum use of resources and effective administration.
  • Scientific decisions based on logic rather than whim.
  • Help meet a changing environment.
  • Help fulfil social responsibility.
  • Basis for management training, education and research.

3. Taylor's five principles. F. W. Taylor, the father of scientific management, aimed to raise productivity by applying scientific methods to work.

1. Science, not rule of thumb: study each task scientifically (time, motion and method studies) to find the one best way, instead of guesswork and tradition.
2. Harmony, not discord: management and workers should work in harmony, with a mental revolution: both see that they gain from higher productivity instead of fighting over sharing profits.
3. Cooperation, not individualism: managers and workers cooperate; management welcomes workers' suggestions and workers avoid unnecessary strikes.
4. Maximum output in place of restricted output: aim at the highest possible production to benefit owners, workers and consumers.
5. Development of each person to his greatest efficiency and prosperity: scientific selection and training so that workers reach their best efficiency and earn more.

Taylor also proposed techniques such as functional foremanship, standardisation, time and motion studies and the differential piece-wage system.

4. A worked sense of principle 1 (imaginary). A packer takes 9 minutes per carton by habit. A time and method study finds a sequence that takes 6 minutes. Output per 8-hour day (480 minutes) rises from 480 / 9 = 53.3 (about 53) cartons to 480 / 6 = 80 cartons, an increase of 26.7 cartons (about 27), which is exactly 50% over the old output (26.7 / 53.3 = 50%).

Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management: key facts

Nature of principles
  • Universal
  • General guidelines
  • Experiment
  • Flexible
  • Behavioural
  • Cause-effect
  • Contingent
Seven features.
Taylor's five
  • Science not rule of thumb
  • Harmony not discord
  • Cooperation not individualism
  • Maximum output
  • Development of each person
Use exact wording.
Output per day
  • Minutes available
  • Divided by
  • Minutes per unit
Used in time-study sums.

How to answer Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management questions

Questions ask for features of principles, the need, Taylor's principles in a case, or a time-study sum.

  1. 1For a case, find the key phrase: one best way (science), both gain (harmony), suggestions welcomed (cooperation), higher production (maximum output), training (development).
  2. 2Name the principle exactly and add a line of explanation in your own words.
  3. 3For a sum, divide available minutes by minutes per unit before and after.
  4. 4Compare the two results.

Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Science, not rule of thumb

Suppose a bakery owner times each step of packing 12 cakes in a box and finds a sequence that cuts waste and time.

Which Taylor principle is applied?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A scientific study finds the one best way.
  2. It replaces habit and guesswork.

Answer: Science, not rule of thumb.

Memory hook: Measure, then decide.

Cooperation, not individualism

Imagine a workshop in which workers' suggestions on tool storage are collected weekly, and the best ones are adopted with credit given to the worker.

Which principle is applied?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Management welcomes workers' ideas.
  2. Both sides work together.

Answer: Cooperation, not individualism.

Memory hook: Together, not alone.

Tricks to remember Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • S-H-C-M-D

    Science, Harmony, Cooperation, Maximum output, Development of each person.

    Use it when: Taylor's five in order.

  • Not as exact as science

    Principles of management are guidelines because people are unpredictable.

    Use it when: Explaining the nature.

Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Whose principle · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

'Science, not rule of thumb' is a principle given by:
(a) Henri Fayol
(b) F. W. Taylor
(c) Peter Drucker
(d) Max Weber

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. This is the first of Taylor's principles of scientific management.

Answer: (b)

Example 2: Why not as accurate · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Why are the principles of management not as exact as the principles of science?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. They deal with human behaviour, which is complex and changes.
  2. So their results cannot be predicted exactly and they must be applied flexibly according to the situation.

Answer: Human behaviour is unpredictable, so principles are flexible guidelines.

Example 3: Time study and output · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

A packer takes 9 minutes per carton by habit. A time and method study finds a way that takes 6 minutes. For an 8-hour day, calculate the cartons packed in each case (to one decimal place), the increase, and the Taylor principle used.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Minutes in the day = 8 x 60 = 480.
  2. By habit: 480 / 9 = 53.3 cartons.
  3. By the studied method: 480 / 6 = 80 cartons.
  4. Increase = 80 - 53.3 = 26.7 cartons (about 50% more).
  5. Principle: science, not rule of thumb.

Answer: 53.3 and 80 cartons; increase 26.7; science, not rule of thumb.

Example 4: Match principle to case · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Identify the Taylor principle applied: (i) management and workers agree that higher output will raise both profits and wages, (ii) a firm trains selected workers to raise their efficiency and pay, (iii) a plant sets a target of the highest possible production instead of limiting it to a fixed quota, (iv) management asks for workers' suggestions on layout and acts on them.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Harmony, not discord.
  2. (ii) Development of each person to his greatest efficiency and prosperity.
  3. (iii) Maximum output in place of restricted output.
  4. (iv) Cooperation, not individualism.

Answer: (i) harmony, (ii) development, (iii) maximum output, (iv) cooperation.

Example 5: Applying scientific management · 8 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Suppose a garment factory has low output, workers believe management only wants to cut their pay, and tailors use their own methods and quit often. Using Taylor's five principles, advise management on a plan, with one action for each principle.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Science, not rule of thumb: conduct time, motion and method studies to find the best way of stitching.
  2. Harmony, not discord: bring about a mental revolution so that both see that higher output benefits both, for example through shared gains.
  3. Cooperation, not individualism: welcome suggestions from tailors and avoid conflict by regular discussions.
  4. Maximum output in place of restricted output: set targets for the highest possible production with incentives.
  5. Development of each person: select and train workers scientifically so that they reach their best efficiency and earn more.
  6. Link to need for principles: decisions become logical, resources are used well, and the plan provides a basis for training.

Answer: One action for each of Taylor's five principles.

Where students lose marks in Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Giving Taylor's principle as Fayol's

    Know who gave which principle.

    Wrong working

    Science, not rule of thumb is a principle of Fayol.

    Right working

    It is the first principle of Taylor's scientific management.

    Do this: Taylor: shop floor and science.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Repeating the principle's name as its explanation

    Examiners want your own words.

    Wrong working

    Harmony not discord means harmony, not discord.

    Right working

    Harmony not discord means management and workers see that both gain from higher productivity and avoid conflict.

    Do this: Explain the idea.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Calling principles rigid rules

    They are flexible guidelines.

    Wrong working

    Principles of management are fixed laws.

    Right working

    They are flexible, general guidelines that depend on the situation.

    Do this: Say guidelines.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Use the exact names of Taylor's principles.
  • Explain each principle in a different example from the textbook one.
  • For the nature of principles, give seven features with a few words each.
  • In sums, show minutes available, then units per method.

Practice questions on Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

    Who is called the father of scientific management?

    Hint

    F. W.

    Answer

    F. W. Taylor.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

    State two features of the nature of principles of management.

    Hint

    Flexible and general.

    Answer

    They are general guidelines and flexible; they are universal, behavioural, contingent, formed by experiment, with cause-and-effect relations (any two).

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    What did Taylor mean by 'mental revolution'?

    Hint

    Attitude change.

    Answer

    A change in the attitude of both management and workers, so that they see they gain from higher productivity and work together instead of fighting over how to share the profits.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    A worker assembles 12 units an hour by habit. A method study shows she could assemble 15 units an hour. Calculate the percentage increase and the extra units in a 7-hour day.

    Hint

    Increase over the old figure.

    Answer

    Increase = 3 units an hour; 3 / 12 x 100 = 25%. In 7 hours: old 12 x 7 = 84; new 15 x 7 = 105; extra 21 units.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    A manager says, 'Fixed rules should be applied identically everywhere, as principles in science are.' Evaluate using the nature of principles of management.

    Hint

    Flexible and contingent.

    Answer

    The view is wrong. Principles of management are general guidelines that are flexible and contingent, since they deal with human behaviour and differing situations. They must be modified to suit the situation, so they cannot be applied identically everywhere like laws of natural science.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Name Taylor's first principle.Show answer

    Science, not rule of thumb.

  2. 2.What does contingent mean?Show answer

    Application depends on the situation.

  3. 3.Why are principles not exact?Show answer

    They deal with human behaviour.

  4. 4.What is a time and motion study for?Show answer

    To find the one best way of doing a task.

Nature, Need and Taylor's Scientific Management: frequently asked questions

Is scientific management only for factories?

Taylor's work focused on the shop floor, but the idea of studying methods scientifically is wider.

Does harmony mean there should be no disagreement?

It means cooperating towards shared gains instead of constant conflict.

Are Taylor's techniques part of the principles?

They are tools; the five principles are the core to learn.