Chester Barnard American business theorist, author of works on management Date of Birth: 07.11.1886 Country: USA

Biography of Chester Barnard

Chester Irving Barnard, an American business theorist and author on management, was born in 1886 in Malden, Massachusetts, USA. Despite facing financial difficulties, Barnard managed to enroll in the Economics Department at Harvard University in 1906. During his time at university, he supported himself by transcribing student papers in the evenings and showcased his musical talents by playing in an orchestra at parties and dance events. Although he did not obtain a degree, Barnard joined the 'American Telephone and Telegraph' (AT&T) as a statistician with the help of his family connections. His proficiency in multiple European languages, including Italian, German, and French, led him to work on international tariffs within the company.

Barnard's career progressed, and in 1915, he became a commercial engineer. In the early 1920s, he held the position of Assistant to the Deputy President and Chief Executive Officer of the 'Bell Telephone Company' in Pennsylvania. It was during this period that Barnard became interested in improving organizational functioning. His research in this area would later establish his reputation as one of the most significant representatives of the social systems school of management and organizational theory.

In 1925, Barnard presented his work, 'Development of Executive Ability,' at the University of Pennsylvania. This work laid the foundation for his later writings and included the development of several universal leadership qualities. Barnard believed that all enterprises and organizations are comprised of individuals, each with their own individual motivations. He emphasized the importance of considering the goals of smaller departments within larger organizations. According to Barnard, "management must be the connecting link in the chain."

Barnard distinguished between the effectiveness and productivity of management, asserting that effectiveness can only be achieved when all employees understand and accept the organization's goals. He believed that the desire of all workers involved in the labor process is necessary for the survival and prosperity of an organization.

Barnard also emphasized the value of communication, emphasizing that it should meet three essential conditions: information channels must be known to all, everyone should have access to the official communication channel, and communication lines should be as short and direct as possible.

In 1938, he published his book, 'The Function of the Executive,' which aimed to improve organizational functioning. Barnard proposed three possible areas for improvement: ensuring the readiness of different functional units to cooperate, developing adequate interdepartmental instructions, and providing comprehensive personnel training to ensure a flow of leaders.

At the age of 41, Barnard became the President of the Bell Telephone Company in New Jersey. He was also a member of several committees in the state of New Jersey, focusing on emergency situations and working with juvenile delinquents. During World War II, Barnard held the position of President of the United Service Organizations (USO).

In 1948, after dedicating almost 40 years to AT&T, Chester Barnard transitioned to the Rockefeller Foundation, where he became its president.

Chester Barnard passed away on June 7, 1961, in New York City. He authored several books and numerous articles, although many of his works did not receive much attention or recognition due to their difficult prose, which many considered "unreadable."