Edgar H. Schein

1928 - 2023

Father of organizational culture with ground-breaking work on organization learning and career dynamics. 

HALL OF FAME​​

Inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2009. 

RANKED THINKER

Ranked #36 in 2005.

Previous positions:

#17 (2003), #21 (2001). 

FAST FACT​

Recipient of the distinguished Scholar-Practitioner Award of the Academy of Management, 2009.

Ideas

Schein’s model of organizational culture, which he proposed in the 1980s, identifies three distinct levels of culture: artifacts, espoused values, and assumptions. The basic assumptions – assumptions that are deeply embedded in the office dynamic – shape the values – how the organization represents itself to themselves and others – and the values shape practices and behaviour – the visible part of the culture.

Schein also developed the concept of career anchors, an individual’s perception of their own talent and abilities, values, motives, and needs, which help people make better career choices.

Bio

In 1972 he became the chairman of the Organization Studies Group of the MIT Sloan School, a position he held until 1982. Besides his numerous articles in professional journals, he has authored fourteen books and received many honours and awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Workplace Learning (2012).

Content

Organizational Culture and Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 1985); Career Anchors: Discovering Your Real Values (Pfeiffer & Co, 1993); Process Consultation: Its Role in Organization Development (FT Press, 1998); Process Consultation Revisited: Building the Helping Relationship (FT Press, 1998); The Corporate Culture Survival Guide, (Jossey-Bass, 1999); Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help (Berrett-Koehler, 2009); Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling (Berrett-Koehler, 2013).

NATIONALITY: American

Media picks

Verdict

“Schein brought organizational culture to the forefront of management thinking.”

Stuart Crainer & Des Dearlove, Thinkers50

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest and greatest ideas in business, management, and thought leadership.

*mandatory field

Thinkers50 will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide news, updates, and marketing. Please confirm that you agree to have us contact you by clicking below:


You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at . We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Privacy Policy Update

Thinkers50 Limited has updated its Privacy Policy on 28 March 2024 with several amendments and additions to the previous version, to fully incorporate to the text information required by current applicable date protection regulation. Processing of the personal data of Thinkers50’s customers, potential customers and other stakeholders has not been changed essentially, but the texts have been clarified and amended to give more detailed information of the processing activities.

Thinkers50 Awards Gala 2023

Join us in celebration of the best in business and management thinking.