Elliott Jaques: Father Time and Requisite Organizations

Abstract

Elliot Jaques’ body of work spans over five decades and profoundly shaped the discourse in organizational development and change through his demand for precise definitions and scientific research to advance our ideas of human behavior and social institutions. He authored twenty books and published across a wide range of discipline journals but more notably constantly remained engaged in consultancy research with organizations from a developmental perspective seeking to help build their capacity to be more effective. His cross-discipline training in medicine, psychology, sociology, economics, psychoanalysis, and social sciences shaped his perspective and contribution to the field of organizational development. The primary puzzle of practice he sought to resolve focused on organizational design and the extent to which organizations are stratified to match the level of work commensurate with cognitive capabilities of the managers accountable for the work out of that level. A Canadian-born psychoanalyst, Elliott Jaques started his educational training with a BA from the University of Toronto in 1937, then an MD from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1941, and a PhD in Social Relations from Harvard University in 1952. He held several positions within research and higher education institutes, starting as the first project leader for Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatry, founder and head of the School of Social Sciences at Brunel University and research center, emeritus research professor in Management Sciences at George Washington University, honorary professor of Buenos Aires University, emeritus professor at Brunel University, and founder of Cason Hall Publishing with his wife Kathryn. He was honored with several awards, to include Consulting Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association, Joint Chief of Staff of the US Armed Services, and General Colin Powell recognition for “outstanding contribution in the field of military leadership.” Jaques cited as one of the most undeservedly ignored management researchers of the Modern era. Elliot Jaques died March 8, 2003 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA – still productively engaged in his consultancy research and in developing useful concepts for organizations.