Biography - James David Thompson

James David Thompson (1920 - 1973)

If you take a look at the new edition of Organizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory " you hold in your hands one of the half-dozen most influential books on organizations written in the twentieth century. James D. Thompson's Organizations in Action has significantly shaped the course of organization theory and research since its appearance in 1967.The value of this brilliant, elegant, concise treatise on organizations remains undiminished, and it is a pleasure to introduce it to a new generation of users." That quotation is taken from the introduction to the new edition that is provided by W. Richard Scott
(p. xv). Taken, as well, from the new edition is the complete bibliography that is provided below along with links to the material that is held in the Western Libraries.
Those looking for additional background should also see the brief preface to the new edition written by Mayer N. Zald. That book was also the subject of a "Book Review Symposium" and the three reviews are all found together in the September 2003 issue of Administrative Science Quarterly (Vol.48, No.3, p.498). One of the reviewers says that "the book is invaluable in understanding the history of modern organization theory...." Another that "...much of North American organization theory consists of footnotes to James D. Thompson." See also the 40th anniversary issue of ASQ (Vol.41, No.2, June 1996) for further discussions about Thompson's influence and his role in starting that journal. His contributions to it are also listed in the bibliography provided below.
For a brief biographical sketch that discusses Thompson's contribution to theory see also "Thompson, James David" in The IEBM Handbook of Management Thinking (p.661)

(Where possible, links directly to the full text of the articles are provided. The electronic articles will only be accessible to members of the UWO academic community because of database license restrictions. Print copies are also generally available in one of the Western Libraries)

"Community Patterns of Idea Intake," in Journalism Quarterly Winter, 1951, pp. 49-57
James Thompson DBWPER PN 4700.J7 V.28

"Some Experiences with the Group Interview," in Social Forces, Vol. 31, December, 1952, pp. 148-154.
With N.J. Dermerath DBW, RDL or BRES PER HN 51.J6 V.31

"On Building an Administrative Science," Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 1, June, 1956, pp. 102-111.
James Thompson HD 28.A25 v.1

"Authority and Power in 'Identical Organizations'," American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 62, November, 1956, pp. 290-301.
RDL HM1.A7 v.62

"Technology, Organization and Administration," Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 2, December, 1957, pp. 325-343.
With F.L. Bates HD 28.A25 v. 2

"Modern Approaches to Theory in Administration," in Andrew Halpin, ed., Administrative Theory in Education
EDU or RDL LB 2806.H3

"Organizational Goals and Environment: Goal-Setting as an Interaction Process," American Sociological Review, Vol. 23, February, 1958, pp. 23-31.
With William J. McEwen RDL HM1.A75 v. 23

Comparative Studies in Administration, James Thompson, Co-editor.
HD 30.P5

"Organizational Management of Conflict," in Administrative Science Quarterly Vol. 4, March, 1960, pp. 389-409.
James Thompson HD 28.A25 v.4

"Common Elements in Administration," chapter in Ella W. Reed, ed., Social Welfare Administration .
DBWSTK HV 40.N3

"Organizational Decision-Making," Series Research in Social Psychology, Symposia Studies Series, Fall, 1961.
With Arthur Tuden Not available at UWO

"Disaster, Community Organization, and Administrative Process," chapter in George W. Baker and Dwight W. Chapman, eds., Man and Society in Disaster pp. 268-300.
With Robert W. Hawkes DBWSTK BF 789.D5B3

"Common and Uncommon Elements in Administration," chapter in The Social Welfare Forum, 1962, Official Proceedings of the National Conference on Social Welfare. DBWSTK HV 88.A3

"Organizations and Output Transactions," American Journal of Sociology, November, 1962, pp. 309-324.
James Thompson RDL HM1.A7

"A Rationale for Viewing Organizational Conflict," chapter in Jack Culbertson and Stephen Hencley, eds., Educational Research: New Perspectives.
James Thompson RDL LB 1028.C8

"How to Prevent Innovations," Trans-Action, Vol.2, January/February, 1965, p.30.

Approaches to Organizational Design, Editor, James Thompson.
HM131.T56

Organizations in Action, James Thompson.
HD38.T465 2003

"Occupations, Personnel and Careers," Educational Administration Quarterly, Winter, 1968, pp. 6-31.
With Richard Carlson and Robert W. Avery RDL L11.E33 v.4-6

"Models of Organization and Administrative Systems," in The Social Sciences: Problems and Orientations. James Thompson
Not available at UWO

"Truth Strategies and University Organization," Educational Administration Quarterly, Spring, 1969.
With Robert W. Avery and Robert W. Hawkes RDL L11.E33 v.4-6

The Behavioral Sciences: An Interpretation, With Donald R. Van Houten.
DBWSTK H83.T45

"The Regeneration of Social Organizations," American Sociological Review, Vol. 36, August 1971, pp. 624-637.
James Thompson RDL HM1.A75 v.36

"Society's Frontiers for Organizing Activities," Public Administration Review, Vol. 33, July/August, 1973, pp. 327-335
James Thompson LAWPER K16.U445 v.33

"Family Economics and the Family Life Cycle: Internal Dynamics and Social Consequences," Sociology and Social Research, Vol. 57, 1973, pp. 182-195.
With Walter Gove, James Grimm, and Susan Motz ARCC HM1.S75

"Technology, Polity, and Societal Development," Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 19, March, 1974, pp. 6-21.
James Thompson HD 28.A25 v.19