Nationality Scottish Subject Organization Citizenship UK Name Wilfred Baron | Period 20th century Role Author Genre Management | |
 | ||
Born Wilfred Banks Duncan Brown29 November 1908Greenock, Scotland ( 1908-11-29 ) Occupation Manager, author, university administrator and uk minister of state at the board of trade Died March 7, 1985, London, United Kingdom Spouse Marjorie Skinner (m. 1939) Books Exploration in management | ||
Wilfred Banks Duncan Brown, Baron Brown MBE (29 November 1908 – 7 March 1985) was the chairman and the managing director of Glacier Metal Company (1939–1965), author of several books and articles on management and labour issues, university administrator, and United Kingdom's Minister of State at the Board of Trade (1965–1970).
Brown is perhaps best known for his collaboration with the organizational theorist Elliott Jaques on the Glacier Project, which Peter Drucker called "the most extensive study of actual worker behavior in large-scale industry". Sponsored by Glacier Metal Company and its Works Council during Brown's leadership, the project ran from 1948 to 1965, resulting in the development or discovery of felt-fair pay, stratified systems theory, timespan of discretion, levels of work, product pricing analysis and career progression trajectories. These ideas were described in the various books and articles written by Brown and Dr. Jaques. (See Bibliography.) Brown later attempted to use these processes in governmental affairs as a member of the House of Lords.
An advocate of practical learning for managers, Brown created the Glacier Institute of Management. He served as the first Chairman of Acton Technical College's Governing Body, Chairman of Brunel University from 1949 to 1965, and Pro-Chancellor of Brunel from 1965 to 1980. Although he never attended university, Brown received honorary degrees from Brunel University (DTech, 1966), Southern Illinois University (Doctor of Laws, 1967) and Cranfield University (DSc, 1972).
He was awarded the MBE in 1944 and made a life peer as Baron Brown, of Machrihanish, in the County of Argyllshire in 1964.