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[[File:Walter Polakov.jpg|thumb|Walter Nicholas Polakov]]
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'''Walter Nicholas Polakov''' (July 18, 1879 - 1948) was a Russian [[mechanical engineer]], consulting engineer, and pioneer of [[scientific management]].

'''Walter Nicholas Polakov''' (July 18, 1879 – December 20, 1948 <ref name="namerght">
{{cite web
|url = http://www.archives.com/search/death/record?Country=United%20States&Location=California,%20United%20States&Region=California&FirstName=Walter&FirstNameExact=True&LastName=Polakov&LastNameExact=True&BirthYear=1879&BirthYearSpan=2&UniqueId=5846755:5180:908&resultsurl=%2Fsearch%2Fvital%2Fresults%3FCountry%3DUnited%2520States%26Location%3DCalifornia,%2520United%2520States%26Region%3DCalifornia%26FirstName%3DWalter%26FirstNameExact%3DTrue%26LastName%3DPolakov%26LastNameExact%3DTrue%26BirthYear%3D1879%26BirthYearSpan%3D2
|title = California Death Index, 1940-1997
⚫
}}
⚫
</ref>) was a [[mechanical engineer]], consulting engineer, and pioneer of [[scientific management]].<ref>
{{cite book
⚫
| last = Kelly
⚫
| first = Diane J.
| title = The Red Taylorist: The Life and Times of Walter Nicholas Polakov
| publisher = Emerald Insight
| url = https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/doi/10.1108/9781787699854
| year = 2020
| pages = 174
| doi = 10.1108/9781787699854
| isbn=978-1-78769-986-1
}}</ref>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==

===Early Years===
===Early years===
Walter Polakov was born in [[Luga, Leningrad Oblast|Luga]] Russia and attended High School in [[Moscow]] before studying for a [[mechanical engineering]] degree at the [[Royal Institute of Technology]] [[Dresden]] in 1902 Returning to Moscow he studied [[psychology]] and [[industrial hygiene]] before being employed at the [[Tula, Russia|Tula Locomotive Works]], Moscow.<ref>{{Citation
Walter Polakov was born in [[Luga, Leningrad Oblast|Luga]], Russian Empire, and attended High School in [[Moscow]] before studying for a [[mechanical engineering]] degree at the [[Royal Institute of Technology]] [[Dresden]] in 1902. Returning to Moscow, he studied [[psychology]] and [[industrial hygiene]] before being employed at the [[Tula, Russia|Tula Locomotive Works]], Moscow.<ref>{{Citation
| last = Wren
| last = Wren
| first = Daniel
| first = Daniel
Line 12: Line 31:
| year = 1980
| year = 1980
| pages = 1–11
| pages = 1–11
| url = http://www.jstor.org/stable/257800
| jstor = 257800
| doi=10.5465/amr.1980.4288834
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


===In the USA===
===In the USA===
In 1906 he emigrated with his family to the [[USA]] where he was employed by the [[American Locomotive Company]]. Here he met [[Henry Gantt]] who was a consultant for the company at that time. Polakov joined Gantt's consulting company in 1910 and got to know [[Frederick Winslow Taylor|Frederick Taylor]], [[Frank Gilbreth]] and [[Harrington Emerson]]. However by 1912 he was working for [[Henry Wallace Clark|Wallace Clark]] before launching his own consulting company in 1915.
In 1906 he emigrated with his family to the United States, where he was employed by the [[American Locomotive Company]]. There he met [[Henry Gantt]], who was a consultant for the company at that time. Polakov joined Gantt's consulting company in 1910 and got to know [[Frederick Winslow Taylor|Frederick Taylor]], [[Frank Gilbreth]] and [[Harrington Emerson]]. However, by 1912 he was working for [[Henry Wallace Clark|Wallace Clark]] before launching his own consulting company in 1915.


Polakov joined the [[Taylor Society]] at this time and supported a [[Marxism|Marxist]] view of capitalism in their bulletin,<ref>{{Citation
Polakov joined the [[Taylor Society]] at this time and supported a [[Marxism|Marxist]] view of capitalism in their bulletin.<ref>{{Citation
| last = Kelly
| last = Kelly
| first = Diane J.
| first = Diane J.
Line 27: Line 47:
| year = 2004
| year = 2004
| pages = 61–75
| pages = 61–75
| url =
| url =
}}</ref> He also joined the [[American Society of Mechanical Engineers]] (ASME) and was part of a faction led by Gantt that broke from the ASME conference to hold their own meeting of the ''New Machine'', an organisation which sough political as well as economic power. About fifty people listened to Gantt's call for industrial reform and Polakov's analysis of inefficiency in the industrial context. However despite lobbying [[Woodrow Wilson]] to give more power to managers, little came of their initiative. However responding to the war needs of the [[US Navy]] Gantt and Polakov were employed as consultants by the [[Emergency Fleet Corporation]] where Gantt finalised the development of his [[Gantt chart]]s. Having helped the US shipbuilders keep up with loses due to German submarine action, the Gantt charts were then applied to managing fleet movements at the [[United States Shipping Board|U. S. Shipping Board]].<ref>{{Citation
}}</ref> He also joined the [[American Society of Mechanical Engineers]] (ASME) and was part of a faction led by Gantt that broke from the ASME conference to hold their own meeting of the ''New Machine'', an organization which sought political as well as an economic power. About fifty people listened to Gantt's call for industrial reform and Polakov's analysis of inefficiency in the industrial context. Little came of their initiative despite lobbying [[Woodrow Wilson]] to give more power to managers. However, responding to the war needs of the [[US Navy]], Gantt and Polakov were employed as consultants by the [[Emergency Fleet Corporation]] where Gantt finalized the development of his [[Gantt chart]]s. Having helped the US shipbuilders keep up with losses due to German submarine action, the Gantt charts were then applied to managing fleet movements at the [[United States Shipping Board|U. S. Shipping Board]].<ref>{{Citation
| last = Wren
| last = Wren
| first = Daniel
| first = Daniel
Line 37: Line 57:
| year = 1980
| year = 1980
| pages = 1–11
| pages = 1–11
| url = http://www.jstor.org/stable/257800
| jstor = 257800
| doi=10.5465/amr.1980.4288834
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

===In the USSR===
Polakov returned to his native Russia—by then the [[Soviet Union]]—in 1929, staying until 1931. Whilst there he worked for the [[Supreme Soviet of the National Economy]] to develop the [[First five-year plan (Soviet Union)|First Five Year Plan]]. Here he introduced the [[Gantt chart]], supplying Russian translations of explanations.<ref name ="Kelly">Kelly, D. J. (2004) "[https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=artspapers Marxist Manager Amidst the Progressives: Walter N. Polakov and the Taylor Society]", ''Journal of Industrial History'', 6(2), November 2004, 61-75</ref><ref name="Olson">{{cite book |last1=Olson |first1=Richard G. |title=Scientism and Technocracy in the Twentieth Century: The Legacy of Scientific Management |date=2015 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=9781498525718 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BFzpCgAAQBAJ&q=Technocracy+Russia+Polakov&pg=PA63 |accessdate=25 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==
* (1912) "Power Plant Betterment by Scientific Management", ''Engineering Magazine'', (NY) Vol 41, pp.&nbsp;101–12, 278–92, 448–56, 577–82, 798–809, 970–75
⚫
*{{Citation
* (1916) "Discussion of Robert Valentine, ''The Progressive Relations Between Efficiency and Consent''", ''Bulletin of Taylor Society'', November, pp.&nbsp;7–17
⚫
| last = Polakov
* (1921) ''Man and His Affairs from an Engineering Point of View'' Baltimore: Williams
⚫
| first = Walter N.
⚫
* (1921) ''[https://archive.org/stream/masteringpowerpr01pola/masteringpowerpr01pola#page/n7/mode/1up Mastering Power Production: The Industrial, Economic and Social Problems Involved and Their Solution]'' New York: The Engineering Magazine Company
* (1921) "Making Work Fascinating" ''ASME Journal'', December
⚫
* (1922) {{Citation
| title = Kinetic Statistics as an Aid to Production and Distribution
| title = Kinetic Statistics as an Aid to Production and Distribution
| journal = Journal of the American Statistical Association
| journal = Journal of the American Statistical Association
Line 50: Line 77:
| year = 1922
| year = 1922
| pages = 359–365
| pages = 359–365
| url = http://www.jstor.org/stable/2276954
| jstor = 2276954
| doi=10.2307/2276954
| last1 = Polakov
| first1 = Walter N.
}}
}}
* (1931) "The Gantt Chart in Russia", ''[[American Machinist]]'', 75, pp.&nbsp;261–4

* (1933)''The Power Age: Its Quest and Challenge'' New York: Covici Friede Publishers
⚫
* ''Mastering Power Production: The Industrial, Economic and Social Problems Involved and Their Solution'' (1923)


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata
| NAME = Polakov, Walter
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American marxist engineerr
| DATE OF BIRTH = July 18, 1879
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1948
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polakov, Walter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polakov, Walter}}
[[Category:1879 births]]
[[Category:1879 births]]
[[Category:Industrial engineers]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:Engineers from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States]]
[[Category:People from Luga, Leningrad Oblast]]
[[Category:Russian Marxists]]
[[Category:Russian Marxists]]
[[Category:American Marxists]]
[[Category:American Marxists]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:Industrial engineers]]
[[Category:American expatriates in the Soviet Union]]

Latest revision as of 20:04, 24 November 2024

Walter Nicholas Polakov

Walter Nicholas Polakov (July 18, 1879 – December 20, 1948 [1]) was a mechanical engineer, consulting engineer, and pioneer of scientific management.[2]

Biography

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

Walter Polakov was born in Luga, Russian Empire, and attended High School in Moscow before studying for a mechanical engineering degree at the Royal Institute of Technology Dresden in 1902. Returning to Moscow, he studied psychology and industrial hygiene before being employed at the Tula Locomotive Works, Moscow.[3]

In the USA

[edit]

In 1906 he emigrated with his family to the United States, where he was employed by the American Locomotive Company. There he met Henry Gantt, who was a consultant for the company at that time. Polakov joined Gantt's consulting company in 1910 and got to know Frederick Taylor, Frank Gilbreth and Harrington Emerson. However, by 1912 he was working for Wallace Clark before launching his own consulting company in 1915.

Polakov joined the Taylor Society at this time and supported a Marxist view of capitalism in their bulletin.[4] He also joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and was part of a faction led by Gantt that broke from the ASME conference to hold their own meeting of the New Machine, an organization which sought political as well as an economic power. About fifty people listened to Gantt's call for industrial reform and Polakov's analysis of inefficiency in the industrial context. Little came of their initiative despite lobbying Woodrow Wilson to give more power to managers. However, responding to the war needs of the US Navy, Gantt and Polakov were employed as consultants by the Emergency Fleet Corporation where Gantt finalized the development of his Gantt charts. Having helped the US shipbuilders keep up with losses due to German submarine action, the Gantt charts were then applied to managing fleet movements at the U. S. Shipping Board.[5]

In the USSR

[edit]

Polakov returned to his native Russia—by then the Soviet Union—in 1929, staying until 1931. Whilst there he worked for the Supreme Soviet of the National Economy to develop the First Five Year Plan. Here he introduced the Gantt chart, supplying Russian translations of explanations.[6][7]

Publications

[edit]
  • (1912) "Power Plant Betterment by Scientific Management", Engineering Magazine, (NY) Vol 41, pp. 101–12, 278–92, 448–56, 577–82, 798–809, 970–75
  • (1916) "Discussion of Robert Valentine, The Progressive Relations Between Efficiency and Consent", Bulletin of Taylor Society, November, pp. 7–17
  • (1921) Man and His Affairs from an Engineering Point of View Baltimore: Williams
  • (1921) Mastering Power Production: The Industrial, Economic and Social Problems Involved and Their Solution New York: The Engineering Magazine Company
  • (1921) "Making Work Fascinating" ASME Journal, December
  • (1922) Polakov, Walter N. (1922), "Kinetic Statistics as an Aid to Production and Distribution", Journal of the American Statistical Association, 18 (139): 359–365, doi:10.2307/2276954, JSTOR 2276954
  • (1931) "The Gantt Chart in Russia", American Machinist, 75, pp. 261–4
  • (1933)The Power Age: Its Quest and Challenge New York: Covici Friede Publishers

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997".
  2. ^ Kelly, Diane J. (2020). The Red Taylorist: The Life and Times of Walter Nicholas Polakov. Emerald Insight. p. 174. doi:10.1108/9781787699854. ISBN 978-1-78769-986-1.
  3. ^ Wren, Daniel (1980), "Scientific Management in the U.S.S.R., with Particular Reference to the Contribution of Walter N. Polakov", The Academy of Management Review, 5 (1): 1–11, doi:10.5465/amr.1980.4288834, JSTOR 257800
  4. ^ Kelly, Diane J. (2004), "Marxist Manager amidst the Progressives: Walter N Polakov and the Taylor Society", Journal of Industrial History, 6 (2): 61–75
  5. ^ Wren, Daniel (1980), "Scientific Management in the U.S.S.R., with Particular Reference to the Contribution of Walter N. Polakov", The Academy of Management Review, 5 (1): 1–11, doi:10.5465/amr.1980.4288834, JSTOR 257800
  6. ^ Kelly, D. J. (2004) "Marxist Manager Amidst the Progressives: Walter N. Polakov and the Taylor Society", Journal of Industrial History, 6(2), November 2004, 61-75
  7. ^ Olson, Richard G. (2015). Scientism and Technocracy in the Twentieth Century: The Legacy of Scientific Management. Lexington Books. ISBN 9781498525718. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
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