Frank Gilbreth (1861-1924) & Lillian Gilberth (1878-1972)

Two prominent followers of Taylor’s work. They also refined Taylor’s analysis of work
movements and made contributions to time-and-motion study.

3 aims of Time and Motion Study

(1) Break up and analyze every individual action necessary to perform a particular task into
each of its component actions.
(2) Find better ways to perform each component action, and;
(3) Reorganize each of each of the component actions so that the action as a whole could
be performed more efficiently - at less cost of time and effort.

Cheaper by the Dozen

Movie where improved management principles are captured humorously. This depicts
how the Gilbreth’s (12 children) lived their lives by applying efficiency principles to their daily
lives.

Study of Fatigue
The study where the Gilbreths were interested in. They studied how the physical
characteristics of a workplace contribute to the job stress and thus poor performance. In
comparison to the old crafts system, the new system was more repetitive, boring and
monotonous as a result of the application of scientific management principles and workers tend
to be dissatisfied.

The work of the Gilbreths, Taylor and many others had major effects on the practice of
management.