Emeritus Professor Richard Max Burton of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Aarhus University for his ground-breaking research. Burton is one of the world’s leading experts on organisational design with a focus on organisational design and business strategy: the development and study of organisational structures and processes to achieve efficient coordinated planning and control, and implementation of organisational strategy for performance.

In the Festschrift published to mark the occasion of Burton’s 70th birthday, New Approaches to Organization Design,  his colleagues and associates describe what a far-reaching and significant impact his research has had on the field of organisational design.

Burton has received numerous honours and awards throughout his career, and he has authored or edited over 110 publications. In addition, he has taught and developed a variety of courses in his field and served on the editorial boards of a wide range of well-respected journals.

Through his involvement in the UNIK project MINDLab, which includes researchers from Aarhus University, Burton has forged close ties to Aarhus University, and he has been a frequent guest at the university. Burton has also coached and inspired early career researchers all over the world, including PhD students at Aarhus BSS during his many visits to the university.

Burton has been affiliated with the research centre ICOA since it opened in 2011 and has served on the ICOA advisory board. From 2007 to 2012, Burton was honorary professor at Aarhus University.

The conferral of an honorary doctorate on Richard M Burton will strengthen the ties between Duke University and Aarhus University and provide a basis for further cooperation.

CV (highlights)

Education:

DBA Managerial Economics and Production, 1967 – University of Illinois, Urbana

MBA Finance, 1963 – University of Illinois, Urbana

BS Engineering Mechanics, 1961 – University of Illinois, Urbana

Academic positions:

Professor Emeritus of Strategy and Organization, The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 2013

Professor of Strategy and Organization, The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 1985-2013

Associate Professor of Business Administration, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 1970-1985

Director of Hartman Fund, the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University 2005-2012

Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Duke University, courtesy appointment, 2004-2012

Professor of Management, European Institute of Advanced Study in Management, EIASM, Brussels, Belgium, 1999-2015

Honorary Professor of Management, University of Southern Denmark, 2002-2014

Honorary Professor of Management, Aarhus University, 2007-2012

Visiting Professor, École polytechnique, Paris, 2005

Visiting Professor, Institute d'administration des entreprises, Universite de droit, d'économie et des sciences d'Aix-Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Spring 1975, Academic year 1976-1977

Assistant Professor of Operations Research and Economics, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, 1967-1970

Instructor in Industrial Administration, University of Illinois, Urbana, 1965-1967

Field: Organisation theory with a focus on the choice of organisational design and strategy: the development and study of organisational structures and processes to achieve efficient coordinated planning and control; and implementation of organisational strategy for performance.