What method did Frederick Taylor use to improve work tasks?

Frederick Taylor is renowned for pioneering the principles of scientific management, and he significantly advanced the efficiency of work tasks through the use of time-and-motion studies. This method involves analyzing the time taken for tasks and the motions required to complete them, enabling managers to identify the most efficient ways to perform a job.

By systematically observing and recording the time and movements involved in various tasks, Taylor was able to determine the optimal methods for carrying them out. This data-driven approach laid the groundwork for improving workplace productivity and ergonomics, resulting in better performance, reduced waste, and improved worker output.

In contrast to the other methods mentioned, such as group brainstorming sessions, performance appraisals, and employee surveys, time-and-motion studies are particularly focused on quantifiable measures of work performance and efficiency rather than qualitative inputs or evaluations of employee behavior. Taylor's emphasis on scientific analysis was revolutionary at the time and remains a foundational concept in operational management to this day.