James D. Thompson
Encyclopedia
James David Thompson was an American
sociologist
.
In 1932, Thompson's family moved to Chicago where he went to a public high school. He graduated from Indiana University
with a B.A. in business and served in the United States Air Force
from 1941 to 1946. He obtained a master's degree in journalism and worked half a year as an editor for the Chicago Journal of Commerce before taking a position as a journalism teacher at the University of Wisconsin
. From 1950 to 1954, he worked on his final degree, a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
.
From there, he moved to Cornell University
to teach at the School of Business and Public Administration. He helped found the Administrative Science Quarterly
, of which he was the first editor, in 1956. He became the director of the Administrative Science Center at the University of Pittsburgh
. In 1967, he published Organizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory, one of the most influential books on organizations.
Thompson moved one last time in 1968 to teach at the Department of Sociology at Vanderbilt University
. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1972 and died September 11, 1973.
James D. Thompson's Typology of Decision Making
I. Where both preferences and cause/effect relations are clear, decision making is "computational". These decisions are often short term and information about the decision is fairly unambiguous.
II. Where outcome preferences are clear, but cause/effect relations are uncertain, Thompson suggest that "judgment" takes over and you make your best educated guess. These decisions are based on prior experience and are often qualitative in nature.
III. When the situation is reversed, and preferences are uncertain, then you rely on compromise between different groups. Political coalitions may be built which rely on negotiating and bargaining.
IV. When neither preferences nor cause/effect relations are clear, then you rely on "inspirational" leadership. This is where the charismatic leader may step in and this type of decision often takes place in times of crisis.
A number of theoretical perspectives have developed subsequent to Thompson’s work, most notably, organizational ecology
and institutional theory
. Thompson’s typology of technology laid the ground for the later work of C. B. Stabell and Ø. D. Fjeldstad in their value configuration analysis approach.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
In 1932, Thompson's family moved to Chicago where he went to a public high school. He graduated from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
with a B.A. in business and served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1941 to 1946. He obtained a master's degree in journalism and worked half a year as an editor for the Chicago Journal of Commerce before taking a position as a journalism teacher at the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. From 1950 to 1954, he worked on his final degree, a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.
From there, he moved to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
to teach at the School of Business and Public Administration. He helped found the Administrative Science Quarterly
Administrative Science Quarterly
Administrative Science Quarterly is an academic journal covering the broad field of organizational studies. The journal was founded in 1956 and is published by SAGE Publications for the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University...
, of which he was the first editor, in 1956. He became the director of the Administrative Science Center at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. In 1967, he published Organizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory, one of the most influential books on organizations.
Thompson moved one last time in 1968 to teach at the Department of Sociology at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1972 and died September 11, 1973.
James D. Thompson's Typology of Decision Making
I. Where both preferences and cause/effect relations are clear, decision making is "computational". These decisions are often short term and information about the decision is fairly unambiguous.
II. Where outcome preferences are clear, but cause/effect relations are uncertain, Thompson suggest that "judgment" takes over and you make your best educated guess. These decisions are based on prior experience and are often qualitative in nature.
III. When the situation is reversed, and preferences are uncertain, then you rely on compromise between different groups. Political coalitions may be built which rely on negotiating and bargaining.
IV. When neither preferences nor cause/effect relations are clear, then you rely on "inspirational" leadership. This is where the charismatic leader may step in and this type of decision often takes place in times of crisis.
Organizations in action
Organizations in Action was published in 1967. The book is still today a classic multidisciplinary study of the behavior of complex organizations as entities. The book considers individuals behavior only in the extent that it helps explain the nature of organizations. James D. Thompson offers 95 distinct propositions about the behavior of organizations, all relevant regardless of the culture in which they are found. A central topic in the book is that organizations must meet and handle uncertainty. He classifies organizations according to their technologies and environments. Thompson saw technology as an dimension in understanding the actions of complex organization. Thompson recognized the benefit for managers of using a typology of technology that could be general enough to deal with a different range of technologies found in complex organizations. He proposed then three varieties:- The long-linked technology is a primary process with sequential dependence. It is characterized by a high level of closure: standardization of operations, tools, parts and mashines.
- The mediating technology
- The intensive technology
A number of theoretical perspectives have developed subsequent to Thompson’s work, most notably, organizational ecology
Organizational ecology
i\--184.38.106.199 22:59, 29 November 2011 her Haveman]], Alessandro Lomi, Anand Swaminathan, Giacomo Negro, and Stanislav Dobrev.- Inertia and change :...
and institutional theory
Institutional theory
Institutional theory is "A widely accepted theoretical posture that emphasizes rational myths, isomorphism, and legitimacy."FThere are two dominant trends in institutional theory:* Old Institutionalism sometimes associated with Historical institutionalism...
. Thompson’s typology of technology laid the ground for the later work of C. B. Stabell and Ø. D. Fjeldstad in their value configuration analysis approach.