Re-discovering Charles Clinton Spaulding’s “The Administration of Big Business”
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reveal the contributions made by Charles Clinton Spaulding, a prominent black business leader in the USA in the early 1900s. This paper highlights the management philosophies and practical work of Spaulding, an individual who considerably influenced African-American management thought and practice, and played an important role in Corporate America from the turn of the twentieth century onward. Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted by reviewing and synthesizing a number of writings including published works by Spaulding himself, as well as articles about Spaulding from sources such as history journals, newspapers and other resources. Findings – Spaulding’s contributions were significant, from his insight regarding the fundamental necessities for the effective management of a business, to his management style and implementation of practices which reflected his recognition of the importance of transformational leadership, employee development, diversity, corporate social responsibility and a strong positive culture for the successful management of an enterprise. Thus, this paper concludes that the title of “Father of African-American Management” is a fitting tribute to this business pioneer who overcame the odds to become the most successful black business executive in the early twentieth century. Originality/value – The contributions made by minorities, including African-Americans, to management thought and practice have not been adequately covered in the literature. This paper begins to fill a noticeable void by drawing from infrequently acquired sources such as Spaulding’s article “The Administration of Big Business” and highlighting his contributions to the African-American community and the business community at large.
Year of publication: |
2016
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Authors: | Prieto, Leon C. ; Phipps, Simone T. A. |
Published in: |
Journal of Management History. - Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1758-7751, ZDB-ID 2020279-9. - Vol. 22.2016, 1, p. 73-90
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Publisher: |
Emerald Group Publishing Limited |
Subject: | Administration of Big Business | African-American management thought | Charles Clinton Spaulding |
Saved in:
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