Richard Hackman

J. Richard Hackman (born June 14, 1940 in Joliet , Illinois ; † January 8, 2013 in Boston ) was an American psychologist and author of numerous books on group trials. Most recently, he was Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at Harvard University .

Life and work

Richard was the son of Helen and John Hackman. His mother was a gifted teacher; he should follow her talent. He had a good childhood. His love for fly fishing and the Bighorn Mountains lasted his life. In 1962 he married Judith Dozier and had two daughters with her. His students said he had a high degree of due diligence and empathy. He received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from MacMurray College in Jacksonville . He then specialized in social psychology at the University of Illinois and habilitated there in 1966. He taught at Yale University for twenty years and then moved to his last position at Harvard. He died of lung cancer at the age of 72.

Hackman has taught and researched in various fields of social and organizational psychology, including team building . His work in the areas of work design and team effectiveness is considered fundamental. He attached great importance to the effectiveness of managers and the creation of independent teams and organizations. He was a member of the US Intelligence Science Board and the Board of Trustees of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra .

In his seminars he conducted group exercises for civilian and military cockpit crews, hospital and kitchen employees, sports teams and members of music orchestras. He also oversaw groups of industrial workers and performing artists. As described in his book Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances , published in 2002 , he shifted the role of the boss from “I do it all” to a team player. After such seminars, individual team members no longer fought for their survival in the group, but felt themselves to be part of a successful team in a group that helped each other.

In 1975 he developed together with Greg R. Oldham, the later job characteristics theory called job characteristics model , on the u. a. the tool called Job Diagnostic Survey to determine motivational potential.

In 2004, his book Leading Teams received the Terry Award from the Academy of Management for the most outstanding management book of the year .

Works (selection)

• Leading teams: setting the stage for great performances , Harvard Business Review Press 2002, ISBN 978-1633691216
• Groups that work (and those that don't): creating conditions for effective teamwork , Jossey-Bass 1990, ISBN 978-1555421878
• Psychology and work: productivity, change, and employment , American Psychological Association 1986, ISBN 978-0912704487
• Managing organizational behavior , Little, Brown 1979
• A New strategy for job enrichment , Technical Report No. 3 Yale University, 1974

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Ruth Wageman, Teresa M. Amabile: Harvard Business School: Entrepreneurial Management . Working Paper 14-009, Harvard Business School, July 17, 2013
2. ^ ^{A b} Richard Hackman Homepage on the Social Psychology Network page , 2010
3. ↑ Dennis Hevesi: J. Richard Hackman, to Expert in Team Dynamics, Dies at 72 . New York Times , January 20, 2013