Frederick Winslow Taylor was an American mechanical engineer who sought to improve industrial efficiency. He is considered the father of scientific management. Taylor broke jobs down into their smallest components and designed the most efficient methods for completing each task. He introduced concepts like time studies, differential pay, and close supervision of workers. His ideas influenced many other management thinkers and were widely adopted by industries in the early 20th century. However, some critics argue that his methods overly focused on efficiency at the cost of worker satisfaction and empowerment.