Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Human resources/personnel management, a subdiscipline of business administration, is examined as a metadiscipline. Support for the metadisciplinary treatment is found in an evolutionary analysis of the field, drawing from system precursors theory. Extensions of this viewpoint are made and indications of likely future developments in the HR/PM area are discussed. An analysis of the advantages of the treatment of academic sub-disciplines as metadisciplines over traditional “phase-oriented” approach is presented and directions for future research are suggested.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

GEORGE, C. S. The history of management thought. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall , 1972.

GRAY, W. General system formation precursor theory. Cambridge, Mass.: Aristocrat , 1977.

KOONTZ, H. The management theory jungle revisited . Academy of Management Review, March 1980, 5, 175-187 .

LORSCH, J. W. Product innovation and organization. New York: Macmillan , 1965.

MCRAE, R. The problems of unity in the social sciences: Bacon and Kant. Toronto: University of Toronto Press , 1961.

MEYER, H. E. Personnel directors are the new corporate heroes . Fortune, 1976, 93(2), 84-88 .

MILLER, J. G. Living systems. New York: McGraw-Hill , 1978.

SAGASTI, F. A conceptual and taxonomic framework for the analysis of adaptive behavior. General systems. Ann Arbor: Society for General Systems Research , 1970.

SCHODERBEK, P. , KEFALAS, A. , & SCHODERBEK, C. Management systems: Conceptual considerations. Dallas: Business Publications Inc. , 1975.

10.

WREN, D. The evolution of management thought. New York: Ronald Press , 1972.

General Systems Precursor Theory as a Supplement to Wren's Framework for Studying Management History: The Case of Human Resource/Personnel Management

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References