2. Robert Owen(1771-1858)
• Was a Utopian Socialist and Social
Reformer
• Was more a doer than a talker
• Born on 14th May, 1771 at
Newton, Wales, England
• At 16 found work in wholesale and
retail drapery
• At 19 borrowed 100 pounds and
set up spinning mules with John
Jones
• 1792 left the partnership and
joined as a manager in
Drinkwaters factory
3. Owen’s Convictions
• “A person’s character is formed by the effects of
his environment.”
• “Only the right environment could produce
rational, good and humane people.”
• “Allies important in developing a person.”
5. Management Contributions
• Founded famous New Lanark Mills in Scotland.
• Was one of the foremost management thinkers during the
industrial revolution well before the advent of the
Scientific Management School
• Can be called World’s first enlightened (and first
personnel) manager and the Father of the Cooperative
Movement
• Established the Grand National Consolidated Trade Union
in 1834
6. Management Contributions
• Stopped employing children below 10 in factories
• Reduced working hours from 14 to 10
• Built houses for workers with proper sanitation
• Nursery for children
• Showed higher wages increased profits through higher
productivity
• Unique incentive schemes
• Informal workers participation in management
