a 2002 survey of 58 business history professors gave the top spots in american business history to henry ford, followed by bill gates; john d. rockefeller; andrew carnegie, and thomas edison. they were followed by sam walton; j. p. morgan; alfred p. sloan; walt disney; ray kroc; thomas j. watson; alexander graham bell; eli whitney; james j. hill; jack welch; cyrus mccormick; david packard; bill hewlett; cornelius vanderbilt; and george westinghouse. a 1977 survey of management scholars reported the top five pioneers in management ideas were: frederick winslow taylor; chester barnard; frank bunker gilbreth sr.; elton mayo; and lillian moller gilbreth.