CHAPTER XII 
SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT 
Broap AND NARROW INTERPRETATION 
The use of the expression ''scientifie management’ 
assumes that there 1s such a thing as a science of manage: 
ment. Since the briefest and most commonly accepted 
definition of science is knowledge carefully digested and 
arranged, we may define the science of management in 
accordance with the ordinary conception of science. 
In order to do so, however, we must not attempt to 
confuse with our definition any of the past, present, or 
future aims or methods of scientific management. If we 
were to define the science of explosives, we should not 
attempt to discuss in our definition whether the ex- 
plosives were to be used for digging post-holes, removing 
stumps, or waging warfare. If we were to define the 
science of organic chemistry, we should not enter into a 
discussion of the merits or demerits of food adulteration. 
A definition of the science of management in accord- 
ance with our requirements, then, would be the obtaining, 
digesting, and arranging of all obtainable knowledge re- 
lating to the conditions, methods, processes, relations, 
and results in the field of management, whether that field 
be manufacturing, distributing, municipal, state, or na- 
tional government, the army or navy, or educational 
institutions or systems. Having gathered our data and 
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