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Using stories to create change: The object lesson of Frederick Taylor's “pig-tale”

2001; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 27; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0149-2063(01)00109-x

1557-1211

Jill R. Hough,

Management and Organizational Studies

Just over 100 years ago, Frederick Taylor conducted the pig-iron handling experiments. After reviewing discrepancies in Taylor's accounts of these experiments, some have concluded that the episode was no more than a "pig-tale." Through the use of historiographic approaches, including evaluation of Frank Gilbreth's 1912 filmed recreation, this research supports Taylor's use of the "pig-tale." Taylor told the story to persuade listeners that even the most basic processes could be improved for the joint prosperity of employer and employee. When evaluating historical records, we must not allow relatively minor discrepancies to overshadow the object lesson of the story.