As part of the Teaching Innovation Project, “Virtual mentoring platform for women entering the telecommunications technology career: An inclusive and collaborative solution to support professional development and gender equality in the technology industry,” a report was developed for Professor Patricio Ayala’s Management course. Entitled “The Role of Women in the Development of Management Thought and Theory,” the report highlights the historical contributions of pioneering thinkers such as Mary Parker Follett and Lillian Gilbreth, whose ideas established the foundation for a more humane, collaborative, and participatory administration.
“Historically, management theory has been taught from a male perspective, omitting fundamental viewpoints for the development of organizational thinking. This research highlights the legacy of women who transformed the way we lead, manage, and build community within organizations,” states the document from the Department of Industrial Technologies at the Technological Faculty of Usach.
The text highlights, for example, that Mary Parker Follett introduced concepts such as shared leadership, constructive conflict resolution, and functional authority, all of which remain relevant in contemporary management schools. Similarly, Lillian Gilbreth incorporated psychology into the study of efficiency and well-being at work, providing a systemic view at a time dominated by a mechanistic approach. Both thinkers were ignored for decades in classic textbooks, despite their theories having laid the foundations of modern management.
Incorporating these contributions into the training of students in technological and administrative careers is crucial for building a more inclusive, diverse, and representative body of knowledge. The report also emphasizes the need to broaden this perspective to include other female figures who, through activism, community management, or academia, have contributed to a rethinking of leadership, power, and organization.
The report also contextualizes the problem with current data. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2023), women hold only 32.2% of management positions worldwide. This number drops dramatically in fields such as technology and engineering, where the gender gap is even wider. ECLAC reports indicate that women's participation in management positions in Latin America is just under 30%, with significant variations across different countries and productive sectors.
In addition, a review of 10 university textbooks on management theory reveals that less than 5% of the cited authors are women, highlighting a significant lack of female representation in academia. This lack of visibility not only perpetuates stereotypes and restricts students' educational horizons, but it also reinforces outdated hierarchical structures that new leadership trends are already challenging.
“This type of research allows us to rethink history, correct omissions, and build more diverse references for new generations. The inclusion of a gender perspective in administration is not only a matter of justice but also of organizational improvement and sustainability,” the report states.
The Department of Industrial Technologies emphasized that the goal is not to replace one history with another, but to enrich our understanding of the past and present with all the voices that have shaped the discipline. This initiative is also linked to other institutional actions, such as mentoring for women in technology careers, interdisciplinary discussions, and the incorporation of gender-sensitive content into the curriculum.
The report concludes by emphasizing the need to continue researching and documenting the contributions of women in administration. It also encourages the active participation of students and faculty in projects that raise awareness of these issues. The path to a more equitable future requires institutional will, cultural transformation, and a commitment from everyone in the university and professional ecosystem.