Chester Irving Barnard (November 7, 1886 – June 7, 1961) was an American business executive, public administrator, and the author of pioneering work in management theory and organizational studies. His landmark 1938 book, The Functions of the Executive, sets out a theory of organization and of the functions of executives in organizations. The book has been widely assigned in university courses in management theory and organizational sociology.Barnard looked at organizations as systems of cooperation of human activity, and noted that they are typically short-lived. It is rare for a firm to last more than a century. Similarly most nations last for less than a century. The only organization that can claim a substantial age is the Roman Catholic Church. According to Barnard, organizations are not long-lived because they do not meet the two criteria necessary for survival: effectiveness and efficiency. Effectiveness, is defined the usual way: as being able to accomplish stated goals. In contrast, Barnard's meaning of organizational efficiency differed substantially from the conventional use of the word. He defined efficiency of an organization as the degree to which that organization is able to satisfy the motives of the individuals. If an organization satisfies the motives of its members while attaining its explicit goals, cooperation among its members will last.
Barnard was a great admirer of Talcott Parsons (1902–1979) and he and Parsons corresponded persistently. The two scholars would send manuscripts for commentary to each other and they would write long letters where they engage in a common theoretical discussion. The first correspondence between Barnard and Parsons began in the end of the 1930s and it persisted essentially to Barnard’s death in 1961.
A career in human relations or management allows individuals to work in an interpersonal setting in diverse fields. Careers in human relations and management may also lead to leadership positions, and several alumni who have chosen this path work as either executives or community leaders.
Students interested in careers in human relations or management would benefit by specializing in Social Interaction, which will help students develop skills in both face-to-face and online communication and will provide them with a nuanced understanding of interpersonal communication that is necessary for those hoping to work in this field. Additionally, students may be interested in coursework in Communication and Culture which will aid students in understanding how people from different cultures’ communicate and enable them to communicate with a diverse population.
This career path offers a number of jobs. Some examples include the following:
Corporate trainer
Human relations/leadership consultant
Industrial/labor relations consultant
Job recruiter
Motivational speaker
Personnel manager
To further prepare for a career in human relations or management, students should also seek coursework in areas outside the department, including business, economics, and marketing. In addition, students may benefit from taken more specialized courses aimed at management and communication in the fields in which they hope to work, such as construction management, medicine, sales, etc.