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Hamilton MacFarland Barksdale and The Du Pont Contributions to Systematic Management*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

Ernest Dale
Affiliation:
Research Associate, Cornell University
Charles Meloy
Affiliation:
Research Associate and Consultant, Ernest Dale Associates

Abstract

This article establishes the contributions of a pioneer American thinker to the theory of administration, scientific management, and the theory (and practice) of human relations. Barksdale did not publish his ideas widely, and his contributions are best known through the men he trained and his own managerial success at Du Pont and General Motors.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The President and Fellows of Harvard College 1962

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References

1 Friedman, Milton, “The Methodology of Positive Economics,” in Essays in Positive Economics (Chicago, 1953), vol. 3, pp. 10 ff.Google Scholar

2 Winkler, John K., The Du Pont Dynasty (New York, 1935), p. 158.Google Scholar

3 A “going concern” would have the advantage of providing Du Pont with “a company whose trade and reputation would already be established and which had an intimate knowledge of manufacture.” 1914 Progress Report of the Development Department.

4 Haynes, W. S., American Chemical Industry (New York, 1945), vol. 3, p. 189 n.Google Scholar

5 Barksdale letter dated July 26, 1915, to J. J. Raskob.

6 Dale, Ernest, The Great Organizers (New York, 1960), p. 54.Google Scholar

7 Ibid.

8 Winkler, John K., The Du Pont Dynasty (New York, 1935), p. 164.Google Scholar

9 Brown, Donaldson, Some Reminiscences of an Industrialist (privately printed, 1957), p. 29.Google Scholar

10 Barksdale letter dated April 29, 1901, to Eugene du Pont.

11 High Explosives operating Department [hereafter H.E.O.D.] meeting minutes, 1906.

12 Barksdale letter dated Jan. 12, 1911, to A. J. Moxham on the subject of committee principle.

13 Report from Acctg. Dept. at H.E.O.D. meeting in Nov., 1905, presided over by Barksdale.

14 H.E.O.D. meeting minutes, 1906.

15 Barksdale letter dated Jan. 4, 1912, to Employee's Committee.

16 H.E.O.D. meeting minutes, 1905.

17 Ibid.

18 Barksdale letter dated Aug. 17, 1894, to E. C. McCune.

19 H.E.O.D. meeting minutes, June 21, 1907, Program 15A.

20 Irénée du Pont letter dated Jan. 14, 1911, to William G. Ramsay.

21 Barksdale letter dated Jan. 2, 1912, to A. J. Moxham.

22 Barksdale letter dated Feb. 10, 1911, to W. G. Ramsay.

23 Barksdale letter dated Jan. 29, 1896, to M. M. Pratt.

24 H.E.O.D meeting minutes, Oct. 11, 1909.

25 Urwick, Lyndall, The Golden Book of Management (London, 1956).Google Scholar