... Limited 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited Licensed re-use rights only Management history History – USA Qualitative research Scientific management Walter Polakov Over the past quarter century or more, a strong evidence-based assault has been made on the negative portrayals...

..., the life is important where it illuminates the context. (Russell, 2009 , p. 154) Management history Qualitative research Critical biography Lillian M. Gilbreth Gilbreth’s background can most easily be discussed via a biographical overview. Her roles can then be extrapolated from...

... experiences. Research limitations/implications – Qualitative research in general and critical biography in particular are demonstrated to be the useful methods for providing context for management history. The limitation of author interpretation is recognized. Practical implications – The current...

... and improved firm performance (Holmstrom and Kaplan, 2001). Leveraged buy‐outs Organizational restructuring Department stores Retailing Qualitative research United States of America Chandler's work (1966, 1977) charted the profitable decentralization of major US corporations between 1850...