Shop Class as Soulcraft

Author of Principles of Scientific Management, Taylor was a hugely influential theorist of the early 20th century. His work focused on ways in which management could glean the knowledge of workers and consolidate it, moving it into the hands of higher ups. Those managers would then be able to dole out pieces of information to workers, setting individual laborers up to know and perform only one select piece of a process. The goal of this management technique was to streamline operations (assembly line style) and to drive down labor cost, as workers no longer had to be skilled prior to employment. They simply needed to be trained to repeat one task repeatedly throughout their workday.

Author of The Rise of the Creative Class, Florida celebrates what he sees as the creativity availability in postindustrial society. He heaps praise on those who he calls members of the new “creative class” who, in his estimate, imbue corporate culture with a sense of playfulness and ingenuity that is as inventive and bohemian as making a tangible work of art. As an example of this corporate creative class, Florida cites lower level employees of companies such as Apple and Best Buy who offer suggestions such as revamping sales displays or offering fresh outreach strategies.