The Carbon Copy Clerk: Why We Still Use 1806 Management Logic
In 1806, Ralph Wedgwood patented carbon paper to solve a problem of distance. Before then, every contract and invoice was rewritten by hand, inviting errors and disputes. Wedgwood’s messy, ink-coated sheets created a synchronized truth.
The Stenographer and the Speed of Invisible Accuracy
Remote leadership asks managers to deliver precision without presence, translating team reality from partial signals and being held accountable for accuracy.
The Steam Engine: The Day Work Stopped Following the Sun
In 1781, James Watt patented a steam engine that produced rotary motion. This allowed factories to move away from riverbanks and into the heart of the city. More importantly, it allowed work to happen twenty-four hours a day.
47 Tons of Iron and a Stopwatch
In 1911, the office stopped being a place of craft and became a place of math. With the publication of Frederick Taylor’s Principles of Scientific Management, the "knack" of the individual worker was replaced by the cold precision of the stopwatch. Managers were no longer mentors; they were functional foremen tasked with ensuring that every human movement mirrored a machine’s gear.
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