After working by her husband's side for quite some time, Lillian began to put real thought into changes she could be making. With her husband Frank, she invented the
“time-and-motion” study. This study worked at analyzing efficiency and reducing human error to enhance safety and
satisfaction. The implementation of this study simultaneously reduced fatigue and ultimately led to higher profits and improvement in the productivity of workers (1). Her approach was considered very “humanistic” and highly regarded (4). A lot of what makes up our modern day “scientific management” stems from her ideologies and theories. She is known as the mother of modern management. (
4) While money may have been the sole motivator for many people in Lillian’s role, from the reading I have done, it seems she was only concerned with keeping the peace. She asked questions like, “how can everyone be the most satisfied and efficient employee?” What changes can we implement to get people there?” “What would make a workspace environment better for everyone.” These are questions that no one else was really asking at the time and it was revolutionary. In 1914, she went on to write “
The Psychology of Management,” which is still revered today as the foundational text for psychology (2).
She went on to teach following the death of her beloved husband and became the first (very on brand for her) female engineering teacher at Purdue University (1). She won the Hoover medal. Eventually passed away in our very own Phoenix, Arizona in 1972. She is survived by her many children. She was also immortalized in the family favorite film, “Cheaper by the Dozen.” She inspired that specific character as a parent to 12 children and was written by two of her children (2).The impact of her work was enormous, as one can tell by the way we all still speak of it today. She is well known for being a “pioneer” of industrial/organizational psychology. She lived her life for science, innovation, and exploration. Amin, A. (2023, March 7). Lillian Gilbreth: Pioneering inventor
. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/pioneering-inventor-lillian-gilbreth-e8ylkg/
13862/ Penner, B. (2022, January 21). Lillian Moller Gilbreth (1878-1972)
. Architectural Review. https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/reputations/lillian-moller-gilbreth-1878-1972
Schroyer, H. Q. (1975). Contributions of the Gilbreths to the development of management thought. Academy of Management Proceedings
, 1975
(1), 7–9. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.1975.4975789 Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (n.d.). 13.1 what is industrial and organizational psychology? - psychology 2E
. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/13-1-what-is-industrial-and-
organizational-psychology#:~:text=Gilbreth%20was%20the%20first%20woman,American
%20Society%20of%20Civil%20Engineers. Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, September 21). Lillian Moller Gilbreth
. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Moller_Gilbreth
