21 



Just as the workers could not afford to have a " welfare " system 

 which was entirely out of their control, they could not afford to have 

 applied to industry a science which was out of their control. But 

 there was a sense in which Scientific Management, in the sense of the 

 fuller application of scientific methods to industry, would inevitably 

 come, and one of the future tasks of the trade unions would be to 

 adapt themselves to its principles. Even those things, however, that 

 were good in Scientific Management, if rightly applied, should not be 

 accepted by the trade-union movement until it was in a position to 

 exercise control over them. The official element in the trade-union 

 movement must have a more expert training than it had to-day, and 

 there must be a better workshop organisation, capable of meeting the 

 management on equal terms to discuss the problems of the industry 

 with full knowledge. 



DISCUSSION. 



MR. C. G. RENOLD (of Hans Renold, Ltd., Manchester), in opening 

 the discussion, read the following paper : 



In criticising Mr. Cole's presentation of Scientific Management I feel 

 considerable hesitation. What he has described seems so heinous 

 and tyrannical that I am almost afraid to present another side of the 

 question lest I appear to condone the crimes of which he accuses the 

 scientific manager. 



I would like to point out, however, at the outset, that many of Mr. 

 Cole's charges are levelled, not at Scientific Management at all 

 considered as an alternative to existing systems but apply to the whole 

 capitalist system itself. And in these charges I very largely agree with 

 him. 



Therefore, before dealing with what Scientific Management is, it 

 seems to me necessary to lay down clearly what it is not, as some of 

 Mr. Cole's criticisms are directed at claims which are not put forward 

 seriously by any of the saner leaders of the movement. Thus, it is not, 

 and does not claim to be, a solution of the industrial problem ; it does 

 not settle, on any grounds of cosmic necessity, what proportion of the 

 products of industry ought to go to the various factors engaged, 

 namely, workman, management, capitalist, etc. ; it does not solve 

 the unemployment problem ; it does not settle, from absolute con- 

 siderations, what are the qualities of energy and skill of the " standard 

 worker " ; it does not infallibly ensure that all intercourse between 

 management and men shall be harmonious and pleasant by sub- 

 stituting law and reason for force. It is quite true that claims somewhat 

 of this kind were made by Mr. F. W. Taylor. They were not, however, 

 the foundation of his system, but were afterthoughts. They were 

 never, I think, held seriously by anyone but Mr. Taylor, and certainly 

 will not stand examination for one minute. But all these problems, 

 the division of the product, unemployment, etc., were in existence 



