W kierunku Ameryki. Naukowe zarządzanie na kolei w Polsce międzywojennej

Towards America. Scientific management of the railways in interwar Poland The interest in scientific organization on Polish railways during the Second Polish Republic stemmed from the popularity of Taylorism in Poland and worldwide. This was a general trend characteristic of the period of intensive economic development occurring worldwide. After regaining independence, Poland began the difficult process of building a modern state. In Poland, an agricultural society with a developing industry, yet lagging behind Western societies, voices in the engineering community were becoming increasingly prominent, proclaiming the need for economic development based not only on natural resources but also on rationally organized labor. The example of America, the world’s leading economic power, a country of prosperity, fulfilled the dream of a powerful Poland that, having regained independence, began its journey towards a better future. Models were sought that would make the country economically strong. The driving force behind economic success and the foundation of development was well-developed transportation. Polish engineers completed internships in the United States, learning methods of scientific organization, observing local economic life, and admiring American civilizational progress, including the development of American transportation. American pragmatism, combined with idealism and a belief in the unlimited potential of humanity, capable of building prosperity and achieving happiness through hard work, was tempting and filled with hope. The 1920s were a period of very good economic conditions in the United States, although American railways saw a significant decline in rail freight, primarily due to competition from the dynamically developing automotive industry. Scientific organization was considered a key factor in economic development in the United States. After 123 years of statelessness, the reborn Polish Republic needed the best models of state organization in all spheres. Scientific organization held the promise of building an economically strong country in which efficient transportation and communication played a key role. American models of modern, efficient management in industry and transportation were proving to be successful overseas. Therefore, the attention of Polish engineers was rightly directed towards America. Taylor’s American work system, based on work organization, time measurement, efficiency, and worker motivation, quickly gained interest in the railway sector, especially since American examples demonstrated the significant benefits of implementing scientific principles in the railway industry. This was all the more encouraging because scientific organization promised increased efficiency and significant savings without relatively large financial outlays, which was all the more attractive given the extensive wartime destruction of the railways and the situation of a recovering country struggling with capital shortages. Investment in railways was inevitably limited. Scientific organization seemed worthy of interest and research to many Polish railway engineers, which began to be gradually undertaken in various areas of the railway industry. The Institute of Scientific Organization, centered around Karol Adamiecki, played the greatest role in promoting the principles of scientific organization. It maintained active ties with the American Taylor Society and eminent American specialists who visited Poland to teach scientific organization. Through research, publishing, and popularization, it promoted the principles of scientific organization, reaching railway engineers. It was they, imbued with American ideas that promised a vision of social well-being, who introduced scientific management to the railway industry. This took place in various areas of the railways and varied in its effects across various directorates. Unfortunately, it was selective. It failed to encompass all railway services, and changes were implemented in specific directorates. Reports and papers on the engineers’ activities published in the trade press certainly testified to the positive results, including savings achieved and improved work organization on the railways. The scientific organization continued to develop and enjoy increasing popularity. The period of Poland’s economic development in the 1920s, especially from 1926 onward, proved very favorable for testing new methods. The global economic crisis, whose effects became apparent in the 1930s, caused an economic collapse. Scientific organization no longer enjoyed the same popularity. Moreover, the organizing circles were accused of causing the crisis. The organizers explained that scientific organization methods were often applied ineptly and selectively. It all began on October 24, 1929, “Black Thursday,” on the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Stock prices plummeted, and the world began to plunge into crisis. Contacts with America weakened. The experience of the crisis led to a shift in the scope of scientific organization’s application. This was also visible in the railway industry. Greater attention began to be paid to skillful financial policy, economic calculation, and the so-called human factor, which was reflected in the growing interest in and development of psychotechnics. Interest in applying scientific management to the operation of railways and their facilities was quite significant in Poland. This was because the principles of scientific management were being introduced into every economic sector, and the achievements of the Polish organizational school were so original that they encouraged its testing and application in the railway sector as well. It was observed that scientific organization contributed to improved transport operations, both passenger and freight. Furthermore, scientific organization based on planning, control, and cost analysis, emphasizing standards, standards, increased labor productivity, and optimal resource utilization, brought a completely new work culture to Poland.