Brainpark

The average person spends one third of their life at work and the economy is sustained by their efforts, however many still permit a manager to do their thinking for them. This stems from a philosophy proposed by Frederick W. Taylor in the late 19th century which sought to carefully plan daily tasks for each worker, standardize tasks and tools, provide good pay for good work and poor pay for failure, and remove all “brain work” from the shop floor and place it in the planning department (Rarick, 1987). The intent of this aspect of effective management in an industrial world was held within the framework of the modern dream, where a future was being created where citizens would be freer to enjoy life eventually. This deferred hope never arrived and many hearts grew sick giving way to an unsettled craving for more of life today.

Many of the systems deployed within companies today unfortunately support the old ways of thinking. New generations are entering the workplace and coming into positions of responsibility yet want little to do with the old systems and structures and their restrictions. They don’t want to be burdened with the clothes of those who have gone before them. They want to be respected and free to contribute, innovate, and bring change.

For more details and research on this topic please read: Work Democracy and Self-Managing Teams

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