The industrial revolution unleashed the full power of humanitymentally and physically, yet it also seems to frighten our sense ofpurpose in life. Handmade products were once a source of greatpride in craftsmanship, and the trades or guilds were a powerfulsource of fellowship and community, whereas now work is aboutabstractions of efficiency and profits, with a very anti-socialsterility. There is another change: work used to be primarilysomething that drained the body, but modern work drains the mind aswell as the body. Discuss the efforts of early managementpractitioners and theorists that led to this modern world ofextremes, and mention any steps (if any) taken to keep theworkplace humane and dignified.
