J. Richard Hackman (1940-2013)

Abstract

When J. Richard Hackman died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 8, 2013, psychology lost a giant. Six-and-a-half feet tall, with an outsize personality to match, Richard was the leading scholar in two distinct areas: work design and team effectiveness. In both domains, his work is foundational. Throughout his career, Richard applied rigorous methods to problems of great social importance, tirelessly championing multilevel analyses of problems that mattered. His impact on our field has been immense. Richard rescued the field of groups research from a state of stagnation. Although embarrassed by awards, Richard received many of them. For decades to come, our field will be uplifted by Richard's example, to better see how we can all strive for excellence in research, in teaching, and in having an impact on the world.