Management theory déjà vu? scientific and total quality management

This article compares W. Edwards Deming's total quality management (TQM) theory with Frederick Winslow Taylor's scientific management theory. Although these two theories have in the past been misrepresented as philosophical opposites, the authors have researched and highlighted the extensive degree of similarity between the two. The recent rise in TQM's popularity prompts an examination of similarities between Deming's and Taylor's views on general management, operations management, and people management. Also presented are the new aspects of productivity addressed by TQM. Some time-tested productivity improvement primitives are described.