The Influence Of Russell L. Ackoff

Through The Lens of the Hartman Value Profile

Abstract

This article is intended to be of interest to both applied axiologists who function within consulting frameworks in business settings, and to more theoretical axiologists who are interested in exploring additional dimensions of Hartman’s science. Here, Hartman’s work is “stood up” beside the work of Russell Ackoff, C. West Churchman, Peter Drucker, and Peter Senge, and Hartman’s work stands with great parity. Ackoff advanced “Operations Research” during and after World War II in much the same way that Frederick W. Taylor had advanced “Scientific Management.” By the mid-1950s, he was seeing the inadequacies of his work because of human elements that had been overlooked. His “Systemic Thinking” corrected this and paved the way for Churchman’s insights about “critical judgment” as an advance beyond rational thinking. Hartman can then be seen to advance a discussion beyond Ackoff and Churchman that is every bit as significant as anything said by the highly popular Drucker and Senge. Ackoff and Churchman will be new voices for many Hartman scholars, as Hartman would be a new voice to most Ackoff and Churchman scholars. The correlations found within the work of these individuals makes for an interesting story historically, and it provides a base for many vital applications in modern work settings and additional insights into the importance and value of Hartman’s contribution.