Harrington Emerson

  Leading on from the last, Emerson’s fourth principle of efficiency is related to discipline. When thinking about the meaning of discipline, words like regulation, order and control spring to mind. In order to be disciplined, you need to have a clear idea of what it is you have to do otherwise it can be easy to get side-tracked. Therefore, in scenarios with a need for discipline, generally there is little to no ambiguity and an overriding sense of clarity instead. Inefficiency is one of the greatest problems within organisations, but this single principle has the ability to improve this.  Members of an organisation that are disciplined are also reliable and responsible, knowing and understanding what their role is and how they contribute. In a lot of ways, this links back the third principle of competent counsel because a leader when it comes to efficiency cannot be successful without being disciplined.  One of the most important factors when it comes to this principle, ...

  The next of Harrington Emerson’s principles of efficiency comes under the heading ‘competent counsel’. In order for the application of any of the other 11 principles to be a success, competent counsel is essential. Emerson shared his knowledge of the fact that with the correct management of labour efficiency and productivity, one could see great results with little costs. However, if competent counsel is unable to be put into practice successfully, there must be a flaw somewhere else within the organisation.  In order to obtain maximum efficiency, there needs to be people working in the firm whose role is to maintain a certain level of control. Whether this be over individuals or larger groups, this person would require the same qualities and develop the same efficiency organisation scheme from top to bottom. Within these different groups he believes there should be a leader appointed for organisational management, and each leader is subject to the direction of the efficienc...

"Common sense allows you to accept everything that is necessary and useful, and at the same time eliminate what hinders our attainment of the goal"- Anon Harrington Emerson’s second principle is common sense. He writes ‘It takes neither much intelligence nor much labour to run a tunnel into the mountain’ as technically it can be done by anyone with enough equipment and resources. However, completing the job in the most effective and efficient way possible is a completely different story, one that requires a great deal of common sense. If this principle is not applied, Emerson writes that ‘more capital is invested than necessary. It is the material asset that appeals, not the greater value of organisation and skill’. Common sense allows us to consider that, despite a task technically being completed, is it using the most optimal method that minimises the waste of time and resources? This principle especially applies in situations where things have been done in a certain way fo...

“Efficiency, like hygiene, is a state, an ideal, not a method;” ― Harrington Emerson, Twelve Principles of Efficiency Emerson’s first, and most important principle, is that there should always be a clearly defined goal. In any organisation or company, a primary objective to constantly work towards is vital as it allows the members or employees to focus on priorities. A common mistake that Emerson observes in his writing is when the main goal is obstructed by multiple, less important objectives. When it becomes unclear where the priority should be, inefficient management and planning is inevitable. A clear goal will prevent confusion and ensure that people can manage their time effectively. When management is vague, employees working underneath may skew their ideals for their own personal gain. In his book, The Twelve Principles of Efficiency, Emerson gives an example of a situation where vague ideals and personal impulse resulted in a loss of efficiency. A superintendent of a plant ov...

  Harrington Emerson was born on the 2nd of August 1853 in New Jersey, USA. He was well-educated and attended multiple private schools in Europe before going on to study archaeology, languages and engineering at the Royal Bavarian Polytechnic in Germany. He graduated in 1875 and went on to become a Professor of Modern Languages at the University of Nebraska. However, his diverse background of studies provided him with progressive ideas about the future of education. These were not popular with the religious, fundamental reagents at the University and Emerson was asked to leave the faculty in 1882. Emerson then went on to work for the Union Pacific Railroads as a frontier banker, trouble-shooter, tax agent and land speculator. His ability to work efficiently was honed in this multitasking environment, and soon he was able to establish his own private loan company in 1883. Although this business venture eventually failed, it was only the beginning of Emerson’s diverse and entrepreneu...

 Harrington Emerson was one of America's most renowned management science theorists. Not only this, but he was an industrial engineer and successful businessman. As a forward thinker, his theories centred on maximising efficiency, organisation and structure in the workplace. These ideas are still being employed today across many businesses in all industries. We as a group were drawn to Emerson due to his diverse career between both management science and engineering, which is reflecting in our own interests and choice of degree, Engineering with Management. We hope you find our research regarding Emerson's life and work just as fascinating and inspirational as we have. Enjoy!  “As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” ― Harrington Emerson (Of course, this also applies to women too) 😉💪 -Alana, Paige...