Richard F. Ericson
Encyclopedia
Richard Ferdinand Ericson (1919–1993) was an American
organizational theorist, and Professor Emeritus of Management
and Director, Interdisciplinary Systems and Cybernetics Project, Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology at the George Washington University
in Washington, D.C.
.
and received his Doctorate in Economics
at Indiana University
in 1952.
He was a full Professor at Stetson University
and head of Department of Management in the School of Business from 1952 to 1956. From 1956 he was appointed associate professor of management in hospital administration at the State University of Iowa. In 1959 he was a consultant to the Ohio Dept. of Transportation. After that he moved to Washington DC in 1960, were he had been named professor of Business Administration at George Washington University
, and here in 1969 he became Professor of Management.
Ericson was organizationally active. He was Chairman of the Comparative Administration Task Force, The Academy of Management from 1966 to 1968, and President and Managing Director of the Society for General Systems Research
in 1968 for a year. In 1969 he became Director, Interdisciplinary Systems and Cybernetics Project, Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
.
Dr. Ericson was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma
, American Economic Association
, American Management Association
, Society for General Systems Research
, American Cybernetics Association, The Academy of Management, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
, and the World Future Society
.
One of his students was the author on management and systems thinking Stephen G. Haines
.
Articles, a selection:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organizational theorist, and Professor Emeritus of Management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
and Director, Interdisciplinary Systems and Cybernetics Project, Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology at the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Biography
Richard Ericson received a bachelor's with Phi Beta Kappa and a Masters degree at University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and received his Doctorate in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at 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...
in 1952.
He was a full Professor at Stetson University
Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. In the 2012 U.S...
and head of Department of Management in the School of Business from 1952 to 1956. From 1956 he was appointed associate professor of management in hospital administration at the State University of Iowa. In 1959 he was a consultant to the Ohio Dept. of Transportation. After that he moved to Washington DC in 1960, were he had been named professor of Business Administration at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, and here in 1969 he became Professor of Management.
Ericson was organizationally active. He was Chairman of the Comparative Administration Task Force, The Academy of Management from 1966 to 1968, and President and Managing Director of the Society for General Systems Research
Society for General Systems Research
The Society for General Systems Research is predecessor of the current International Society for the Systems Sciences , known to be one the first interdisciplinary and international co-operations in the field of systems theory and systems science...
in 1968 for a year. In 1969 he became Director, Interdisciplinary Systems and Cybernetics Project, Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Dr. Ericson was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma or ΒΓΣ is an honor society for business students and scholars. Founded in 1913 at the University of Wisconsin, it has over 650,000 members, selected from over 500 chapters in AACSB-accredited business schools...
, American Economic Association
American Economic Association
The American Economic Association, or AEA, is a learned society in the field of economics, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It publishes one of the most prestigious academic journals in economics: the American Economic Review...
, American Management Association
American Management Association
The American Management Association , based in New York City, is a corporate training and consulting group that provides a variety of educational and management development services to businesses, government agencies and individuals. The non-profit membership organization offers business courses in...
, Society for General Systems Research
Society for General Systems Research
The Society for General Systems Research is predecessor of the current International Society for the Systems Sciences , known to be one the first interdisciplinary and international co-operations in the field of systems theory and systems science...
, American Cybernetics Association, The Academy of Management, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, and the World Future Society
World Future Society
The World Future Society is a nonprofit educational and scientific organization in Bethesda, Maryland, US, founded in 1966.The Society investigates how social, economic and technological developments are shaping the future...
.
One of his students was the author on management and systems thinking Stephen G. Haines
Stephen G. Haines
Stephen G. Haines is an American organizational theorist, management consultant, author of books on management and systems thinking, and an international recognized leader in strategic planning and strategic change.- Biography :Stephen Haines has a B.S...
.
Work
Ericson's research interests were in the fields of General Systems and Cybernetics Approaches to Management Theory and Practice, Value Issues in Contemporary Management, GEMSOC.Publications
Ericson has written and edited several books and articles. A selection:- 1969. Organizational cybernetics and human values. Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology. Monograph. George Washington University.
- 1969. Toward increasing the social relevance of the contemporary university. Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology, George Washington University.
- 1968. The impact of cybernetic information technology on management value systems. Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology, George Washington University.
- 1971. The policy analysis role of the contemporary university. Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology. Reprint.P rogram of Policy Studies in Science and Technology, George Washington University.
- 1978. Avoiding social catastrophes and maximizing social opportunities : the general systems challenge : proceedings of the 22nd annual North American meeting, Washington, D.C., February 13-15, 1978. Richard F. Ericson, proceedings coordinator. Washington : Society for General Systems Research.
- 1979. Improving the Human Condition; quality and stability in social systems. Edited. Washington, Society for General Systems Research.
Articles, a selection:
- 1958. "Should Management be Idealistic?" Harvard Business Review, September/October 1958.
- 1963. "Toward a Universally Viable Philosophy of Management". In: Management Technology, Vol. 3, No. 1 (May, 1963), pp. 33-55
- 1966. "Research Scholar's View of Administrative Theory," Proceedings of The Academy of Management, March 1966;
- 1969. Toward Increasing the Social Relevance of the Contemporary University, Program of Policy Studies, August 1969;
- 1969. "The Impact of Cybernetic Information Technology on Management Value Systems," Management Science, October, 1969
- 1972. "Visions of Cybernetic Organizations". In: The Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 15, No. 4, General Systems Theory (Dec., 1972), pp. 427-443.
- 1970. "The policy analysis role of the contemporary university". In: Journal Policy Sciences. Issue Volume 1, Number 1 / March, 1970. Pages 429-442.
- 1985. "Thinking and Management Values in the Microchip Era: An Action Agenda for Institutional Transformation". In: Systems Research 2 (vol. 1), 1985, pp. 29-32.
External links
- Professors Emeritus George Washington University.
- The Day The Constitution Died. Personal website of Ericson's son Kurt Ericson.