Which statement best summarizes Taylor's scientific management approach?

• A. Allow flexible work patterns and rely on worker intuition.
• B. Emphasize social needs and job enrichment.
• C. Standardize tasks, study time and motion, and pay by output to increase efficiency.
• D. Focus on team empowerment and long-term development.

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is maximizing efficiency through careful analysis and standardization of work, with rewards tied to output. Taylor’s approach looks for the one best way to perform a task by studying how tasks are done (time and motion studies), standardizing the methods and tools used, training workers in that standard method, and paying them by the amount they produce. This combination aims to remove guesswork, reduce wasted motion, and align incentives with productivity. The other options reflect different management ideas that emphasize flexibility, social needs, or empowerment, rather than a systematic, methodical approach to work and piece-rate pay.