Early experiements in British scientific management: the Health of Munitions Workers′ Committee, 1915‐1920

Abstract

Investigages some of the ways in which scientific management ideas and practices were implemented in Britain during the First World War. Concentrates on the combination of Taylorism, scientific management and industrial psychology in the work of the British public agency, the Health of Munitions Workers′ Committee (HMWC), in the years 1915‐1920. Analyses the memoranda and reports of the HMWC in order to demonstrate that: Taylorism and scientific management are not synonymous; the British government was interested in scientific management; and that British scientific management led in directions similar to developments in the United States. Asks historians to move beyond the Taylor paradigm in order to grasp fully the differential acceptance of scientific management, especially in regard to implementation outside the USA.