...Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were a husband and wife team of management consultants. They influenced the development of scientific management. Frank Gilbreth pioneered the concept of “motion study and ergonomics”. Lillian Gilbreth was a pioneer in psychology to the problems of management. Frank Bunker Gilbreth was born on July 7, 1868, in Fairfield, Maine. He died in Montclair, New Jersey, on 14 June 1924. When he was three, his father died and the family moved to Boston. After completing school, he passed his entrance examinations for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, he decided to study mechanics in a more practical way and took a job with Whidden and Company Constructions as an apprentice bricklayer. During his term there, he observed that other bricklayers were using different methods to lay brick. These observations were the beginning to Gilberth’s work in motion study. He was granted his first patent for what he called “non-stopping scaffold”. The scaffold not only improved efficiency of bricks laid from 125 to 350 per hour, it also helped reduce the amount of stress and fatigue on the worker’s back. Gilbreth promoted quickly and was made chief superintendent of the company by the age of twenty-seven. In 1895, he set up his own company, based in Boston. By 1900, he was running a very successful business with branches throughout USA. Lillian Moller was born in Oakland, California on 24 May 1878, the daughter of a German-born sugar refiner. She died on 2...
Words: 988 - Pages: 4
...Frank and Lillian Bunker were the Dynamic Duo of the Engineering field. Together, and individually, they left a lasting impact on the way businesses are run, homes are managed, and time is used. Working to make life better, happier and more fulfilled, they touched people on a professional and personal level. From cooking in the kitchen, to hospital operating rooms, the Gilbreths set standards and made changes that are still used, more than a century later. Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr. was born the youngest of three children in Fairfield, ME, on July 7, 1868. Frank was three when his father, John, died from pneumonia. Due to financial reasons, his mother Martha moved with Frank and his sisters, Anne and Mary, to Boston where Martha opened...
Words: 2401 - Pages: 10
...Frank and Lillian Gilbreth and the Manufacture and Marketing of Motion Study, 1908-1924 Brian Price The Evergreen State College Evenaslarge-scale enterprises increasingly integrated manufacture the and marketing mass-produced of goodsin the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scientific managers elaborated and popularized their efficiency methods and strategies an attemptto carveout a distinctive in scientificprofessional withinthechanging niche industrial world.No oneworked more assiduously thiseffort thanFrank and Lillian Gilbreth,and no one was in moreconscious theintimate of relationship between manufacture the the and marketing an innovative of product. Indeed, central my argument thattheGilbreths' is fameandreputation is duelessto theinherent quality theirmotionstudy of techniques, to their or achievementspractical in motion study scientific and management installation, thanto theirprolificefforts publicize to boththemselves humane as scientists and their principles and techniques conducive greaterefficiency as to and workplace harmony. In fact, in a periodcharacterized rapidlychanging by business dynamics and troubledlabor-management relations, the Gilbreths found that their motion studymethods, thoughsoundin theory,at best produced partialandtemporary only efficiencies practice, moreoften in and than not exacerbated tensions, onlybetweenthe workersand managers not they were supposed reconcile,but also among scientificmanagers to themselves. Ultimately,...
Words: 4155 - Pages: 17
...Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Scientific Management Studies The Gilbreths studies were great contributions to not only scientific management, but to the modern world we live in today. They were innovative, and efficient in all aspects of life. Their values and ideals were influences by their unique and fulfilled lives, enriched with the responsibility of caring for twelve children. Certainly, Frank and Lillian had a lot on their hands, so they had to always find the best way to function as a very large family. Therefore, the Gilbreths instilled their main goal, to search for the one best way to organize and execute, into studies of work flows and processes. Their ultimate purpose was to insure quality work performance and satisfaction (BMJ Journals, 2009). Their great studies and creditability lead to interesting careers in consulting, and lifelong recognition of efficiency. One of the studies that I found interesting dealt with the quality and safety in healthcare. The Gilbreths used motion-picture films, to analyze job handling, in this case physician behavior in the surgical room. From the article, Frank Gilbreth and health care delivery method study driven learning, Denis R. Towill states, “Frank Gilbreth invented the micro chronometer, a large clock that could record time to 1/2,000th of a second. By placing the micro chronometer next to the worker in the film camera’s field of vision and attaching a flashing strobe light to the worker’s hands to better identify the direction...
Words: 314 - Pages: 2
...Lillian Gilbreth was the mother of modern management. Together with her husband Frank, she pioneered industrial management techniques still in use today. She was one of the first "superwomen" to combine a career with her home life. She was a prolific author, the recipient of many honorary degrees, and the mother of 12. She is perhaps best remembered for motherhood. Her children wrote the popular books Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes about their experiences growing up with such a large and famous family. But Lillian Moller Gilbreth was not only a mother; she was an engineer and an industrial psychologist. Lillian excelled in high school and decided that she wanted to study literature and music. Her father did not believe in higher education for women. He felt they needed only enough knowledge to manage a home gracefully. But Lillian persuaded him to let her attend the University of California at Berkeley while living at home and maintaining her family duties. When she obtained her B.A. in literature in 1900, she was the first woman to speak at a University of California commencement. She went to Columbia, but illness forced a return to California after her first year. Undaunted, she went back to Berkeley and received a master's degree in literature in 1902. She celebrated by planning a vacation. She spent some time in Boston before embarking, and there she met her future husband. Frank Gilbreth, who never went to college, was interested in efficiency in the...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...Management Process & Organizational behavior ASSIGNMENT NO-2 Q1) Compare and contrast Taylor’s philosophy of management and Gilbreth Couple’s philosophy of management. Answer Frederick Winslow Taylor is regarded as the father of scientific management and was one of the first management consultants, and Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, are known as the ‘Gilbreth couple’. The main basis on which the management philosophies of both Taylor and The Gilbreth Couple, can be compared and contrasted is their respective work on TIME AND MOTION STUDIES, while Taylor was more concerned with ‘saving time and energy’ and focused primarily on the “saving time” aspect and the standardization of tasks, his time studies had to work in unison with the motion studies of frank and Lillian Gilbreth who included the concept of ‘fatigue’ in the time and motion studies. Time study developed in the direction of establishing standard times, while motion study evolved into a technique for improving work methods. The two techniques became integrated and refined into a widely accepted method applicable to the improvement and upgrading of work systems. This integrated approach to work system improvement is known as methods engineering, and it is applied today to industrial as well as service organizations, including banks, schools and hospitals. THE OBJECTIVE OF CONDUCTING TIME AND MOTION STUDIES The main objective of a time and motion study is to determine reliable time standards for the...
Words: 483 - Pages: 2
...Motion Study of Gilbreths in Surgery Frank and Lillian Gilbreth are best-known for their motion study on bricklaying. However they did many other studies on various areas. They have motion studies for athletes, pianists , book keepers and fencers. All of these people were photographed when they were in action. Then those actions were divided into small micro motions to observe the unnecessary movements to eliminate. Surgeons were those people that Gilbreths studied on to improve the surgical operations by eliminating the unnecessary motions. Back in the days, the operations were taking so long because the doctors were trying to find the surgical instruments while operating. They had to stop and look for the equipment which was needed for the next action. Additionally, surgical practices and the instruments varied in the country which resulted incompetence. Gilbreths thought that the scientific management in industry can be applied to the surgical area and they decided to conduct a motion study in this area. Gilbreths observed the surgeons while they were doing the operation and saw that seeking for the surgical instrument took a great amount of time for surgeons that they always needed to stop for some time to get the next equipment. However, Gilbreths had hard time to convince the surgeons to get permission from them to attend their operations because Gilbreths needed to observe them. At first surgeons seemed willing to have Gilbreths in their surgical operations but...
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...loyal customer base. It also identifies that overseas migration is contributing to an increasingly culturally diverse community in Perth. Given these challenges faced by Quik Clips, the objective of this report is to provide specific managerial approaches to address these challenges. This report benchmarks these managerial approaches against theoretical evidence from the classical viewpoint of ‘scientific management’ pioneered by Fredrick W Taylor and Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. Scientific management (also called ‘taylorism’) focuses on worker efficiency via the scientific study of work methods. The recommendations for Quik Clips are: 1. Divide tasks into specific jobs 2. Set job standards and procedures 3. Select employees with appropriate abilities for each job 4. Provide a financial system of reward 5. Develop and implement a training and development program that trains employees in standard methods 6. Systematically examine the methods of activities as to improve the effective use of resources 7. Assess and evaluate performance using scientific methods. Table of Contents Page No. 1....
Words: 2340 - Pages: 10
...Study Guide for Exam #1 Anything from the readings or lecture is fair game but I hope this guide will assist you in your study. The History of Management Thought An outline Classical Management Scientific Management Frederick Taylor Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Henry Gantt (Gantt chart) Henry Ford Bureaucratic/Administrative Management Max Weber Henri Fayol Transition to Behavioral Management Hugo Munsterberg Behavioral Management Human Relations Movement Chester Barnard (Acceptance Theory of Authority) Douglas McGregor Dale Carnegie Behavioral Science Mary Parker Follet Hawthorne Studies (Elton Mayo) Operations Management Information Management Systems Management Contingency Management What are the four functions of management? What two branches constitute Classical Management? How are they similar? How are they different? What are the basic ideas of Scientific Management? (Think Frederick Taylor’s principles.) What contributions did Frederick Taylor, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, and Henry Gantt make to the field? What is Bureaucratic/Administrative Management? Who are the major contributors to this school of thought and what are their contributions? Please be familiar with Fayol’s Universal Principles of Management. What is a bureaucracy and what are its main principles? What are the major contributions of Hugo Munsterberg, Mary Parker Follet, and Chester Barnard? What are the basic ideas of Behavioral Management...
Words: 333 - Pages: 2
...Scientific Management Scientific Management was a new form of management that evolved in the late 1800’s that was based on a number of principles that analyzed the activities of individuals, which in turn, optimized efficiency and productivity. In this essay I will discuss the major advances that were pioneered by Frederick Winslow Taylor, Henry Gantt and Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. Frederick Winslow Taylor was thought of as the most influential business guru of the twentieth century. (154) Taylor was a well -educated man that started his work as a laborer and quickly moved up to a chief engineer at Midvale Steel Company. Through his various positions and experience within this company he discovered many problems that were apparent between management and laborer. His first attempt in his creation of Scientific Management was to combat a process called “soldiering”. Taylor observed how the process of soldering led to low production because workers had intentionally worked slow, while making management believe they were working faster. Taylor identified two types of soldiering that workers practiced: natural and systematic. Natural soldiering was referred to as the “the natural instinct and tendency of men to take it easy.” Managers tried to overcome natural soldiering by forcing workers to be more productive. (123) Systematic soldiering was when workers all together would reason with one another to work slower. Taylor believed that workers systematically soldiered...
Words: 2484 - Pages: 10
...Introduction This paper is a case study of the overarching management styles of the shipping manager for Recycled Furnishings, a division of Thor Enterprises. First is Robert, the current manager, who has been with the company since its inception thirty years ago. Part one of this study will encompass his early managerial style, which school of thought it came from, and the theorist that is most identified with it. However, in the 1980’s his managerial style shifted in response to the business climate at that time. This shift and the new inspiration behind it will also be discussed. Part two will focus on Robert passing the reigns to the next manager, and comparative contrasts between the two styles, what implications all the changes will mean for Thor Enterprise and how the new approach will change the shipping division of this international company. Part One When Robert became a part of the Recycled Furnishings’ business he had already proven himself a capable manager at his previous company, and was eager to help his new company succeed. His management style would be described as coming from the human resource theory school of thought. This is evident by his ability to match needs of the company with the skills of the employees at his disposal, which is a primary objective of the human resource theory (Bradley, n.d.). Being a baby boomer, Robert would have certain traits that are typical of ‘Boomer’ workers/manager that are of particular importance. Attaining personal...
Words: 1616 - Pages: 7
...Group B6 Theory of Scientific Management An organisation’s success or failure is determined by the performance of its employees and how they are managed. There are a number of approaches by which the organisation can be managed, for e.g. the classical approach, the general administrative approach, the behavioural approach, the human relations approach etc. These approaches or theories form a solid foundation for action (Boddy 2002). According to Charles Handy(1993 cited in Mullins 2005), theories assist in the explanation of the past , which is helpful in comprehending the present and thus foreseeing the future, which leads to more influence on the future events and less disorder from the unexpected (Mullins 2005 ). One of the major theories which have played a vital role in increasing productivity and boosting an organisation’s performance is The Theory of Scientific Management. The major contributor for this theory is Frederick Taylor but this approach was later on promoted by a few eminent personalities like Henry Ford and Frank& Lillian Gilbreth and Henry Gantt. Though Taylor’s theory increased productivity, it was criticized later on and due to some of its features. But even today, application of some of his principles can be found in a few industries. Frederick Winslow Taylor who is famous for his theory of scientific management published his work, The Principle of Scientific Management in 1911. According to this work, productivity could...
Words: 1645 - Pages: 7
...One of the first schools of management thought, the classical management theory, developed during the Industrial Revolution when new problems related to the factory system began to appear. Managers were unsure of how to train employees (many of them non‐English speaking immigrants) or deal with increased labor dissatisfaction, so they began to test solutions. As a result, the classical management theory developed from efforts to find the “one best way” to perform and manage tasks. This school of thought is made up of two branches: classical scientific and classical administrative, described in the following sections. The classical scientific branch arose because of the need to increase productivity and efficiency. The emphasis was on trying to find the best way to get the most work done by examining how the work process was actually accomplished and by scrutinizing the skills of the workforce. The classical scientific school owes its roots to several major contributors, including Frederick Taylor, Henry Gantt, and Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. Frederick Taylor is often called the “father of scientific management.” Taylor believed that organizations should study tasks and develop precise procedures. As an example, in 1898, Taylor calculated how much iron from rail cars Bethlehem Steel plant workers could be unloading if they were using the correct movements, tools, and steps. The result was an amazing 47.5 tons per day instead of the mere 12.5 tons each worker had been averaging...
Words: 1608 - Pages: 7
...The classical scientific approach arose because of the need to increase productivity and efficiency. The emphasis was on trying to find the best way to get the most work done by examining how the work process was actually accomplished and by scrutinizing the skills of the workforce. The classical scientific school owes its roots to several major contributors, including Frederick Taylor, Henry Gantt, and Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. Frederick Taylor is often called the “father of scientific management.” Taylor believed that organizations should study tasks and develop precise procedures. As an example, in 1898, Taylor calculated how much iron from rail cars Bethlehem Steel plant workers could be unloading if they were using the correct movements, tools, and steps. The result was an amazing 47.5 tons per day instead of the mere 12.5 tons each worker had been averaging. In addition, by redesigning the shovels the workers used, Taylor was able to increase the length of work time and therefore decrease the number of people shoveling from 500 to 140. Lastly, he developed an incentive system that paid workers more money for meeting the new standard. Productivity at Bethlehem Steel shot up overnight. As a result, many theorists followed Taylor's philosophy when developing their own principles of management. Henry Gantt, an associate of Taylor's, developed the Gantt chart, a bar graph that measures planned and completed work along each stage of production. Based on time instead of quantity...
Words: 1524 - Pages: 7
...Early Management Thought in Perspective Management is not a new concept. It has been employed for thousands of years, as seen in the practices of the Sumerians, the Romans, and the Roman Catholic Church. However, the emergence of the factory system. presented management with a new challenge. With industrialization it became necessary to develop rational, scientific principles for handling workers, materials, money, and machinery. The scientific managers played a major role in helping attain this objective. The primary goal of these managers was that of achieving the highest productivity possible by devising efficient work methods and encouraging employees to take advantage of these new techniques. In the United States, scientific management was made famous by people such as Frederick W. Taylor. His experiments at Bethlehem Steel illustrated the importance of time-and-motion study, and his difFerential piece-rate system provides students an insight into the types of wage incentive payment plans used during this period. Another important scientific manager of the day was Frank Gilbreth, renowned for his work in time-and-motion study and for a large body of work in management in which he collaborated with Lillian Gilbreth. The success of the scientific managers brought about changes in the worker-manager ratio and moved the focus of attention farther up the hierarchy. The result was two distinct levels of inquiry about management. The first sought to identify generally...
Words: 421 - Pages: 2
