Evolution of Management Style at Galaxy Toys Essay

Tags: management theory 21st century 20th century working conditions

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Management as a discipline is generally concerned with the art and science of getting a group of people to achieve a defined goal or objective (Griffin, 2008). The discipline has evolved significantly over the last one century or so (Roth, 1998). In the first half of the 20th century, emphasis was largely placed on structure, authority, and production; with little or no attention to employees (Adetule, 2011). There has, however, been a tremendous shift of management focus from structure and authority to people (employees) over the years (Griffin, 2008). The evolution of management theory over time depicts the ever changing role of managers or leaders in organizations. Each management orientation or school of thought, however, presents its own merits and demerits. With reference to Galaxy Toys, Inc., an American toy manufacturing company, this case study provides an analysis of how the style of management in the organization has evolved from the mid-20th century to the 21st century. The case study particularly identifies two management theories that depict the organization's style of management in the late 1960s as well as the late 1980s and early 1990s. Attention is also paid to the organization's style of management in the 21st century.



Background



Galaxy Toys Inc. is a toy manufacturing company mainly serving the U.S. market. With more than five decades in operation, the organization produces a wide variety of toys for children. The organization's operations are based in various parts of the U.S. This case study, however, focuses on the Ohio branch, where Bart Aldrin has served as the shipping manager since 1969. During Bart's reign, the orientation of management at the organization has shifted from production focus to people focus against the backdrop of changes in the organization's internal and external environments. With Bart set to retire in the foreseeable future, his position will be taken over by Joyce Barnhart, whose style of management must resonate with 21st century managerial thinking.



Part One



The theory that best describes Bart's style of management when he first joined Galaxy is the scientific management theory, which was developed during the late 19th century and early 20th century. A seminal figure in the development of this theory was Fredrick W. Taylor.

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Taylor asserted that production efficiency could be achieved by reducing the amount of time and effort each worker spent in producing a single unit of output (Griffin, 2008). He believed that division of labor and greater specialization could enhance efficiency; and that the most efficient way of dividing labor was through scientific techniques as opposed to intuitive or informal knowledge (Sheldrake, 2003).



Taylor's theory was particularly based on four principles: 1) examine how workers carry out their tasks; 2) devise new ways of carrying out tasks and codify the new ways into written rules and procedures; 3) assign tasks to workers based on the task's needs and the employee's skills and abilities, and train workers to carry out the task as per the written rules and procedures; and 4) define the acceptable performance level for any given task and establish a performance-based compensation system (Adetule, 2011). In essence, Taylor's theory advocated for increasing productivity via raising worker efficiency. The theory dominated management discourse and practice for virtually the first half of the 20th century.



Bart's ability to plan daily work and provide detailed instructions to workers that helped optimize the manner in which tasks were performed largely mirrors the first and second principles of the scientific management theory. These principles emphasize the importance of selecting the best method of performing a given task and matching tasks with workers' skills and abilities using scientific techniques. Bart's attention to implementing processes for training employees to perform their specialized sequence of motion also embodies the third principle of Taylor's theory, which places emphasis on the scientific development and education of workers. His approach to management was instrumental in enhancing production operations and shipping processes at the organization.



Taylor's theory made an important contribution to the field of management and organizational theory. The theory particularly shifted the manager's role from an ordinary (unspecialized) supervisor to a specialized foreman adequately capable of overseeing every step of the production process (Griffin, 2008). Today, it is not uncommon for managers to thoroughly evaluate tasks and develop work systems that guarantee….....

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References


Adetule, P. (2011). The handbook on management theories. Bloomington: Authorhouse.

Cole, G. (2004). Management theory and practice. London: Cengage Learning.

Griffin, R. (2008). Fundamentals of management. 5th ed. Boston: Cengage Learning.

Roth, W. (1998). The evolution of management theory: past, present, future. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Sheldrake, J. (2003). Management theory. London: Thomson Learning.

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