Influence of scientific management principles on ISM Code

Abstract

Taylor’s principles of scientific management has not only changed the way people worked in the 20th century but also affect many contemporary management practices. As a response to the very serious maritime accidents encountered in the late 1980s, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (the ISM Code). The ISM Code is a systematic management approach towards safety through the elimination of both human error and poor management standards. The aim of this study is to explore reflect on the impact of scientific management on the ISM Code using a content analysis technique. The paper concentrates on some studies which were originally proposed by Taylorist principles and the ISM Code. The through review and analysis has revealed that functional supervising, selection and training of personel, management coordination, and scientific job analysis using principles of scientific management are found to be valid and influential within the content of ISM Code.