08/09/94

CONTACT: Stanford University News Service (650) 723-2558

Baron named associate dean at Graduate School of Business

STANFORD -- James N. Baron, a leader in the Stanford Graduate School of Business's interdisciplinary field of human resources management, is assuming primary responsibility for faculty development, effective Sept. 1.

Baron, the Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources, was named associate dean for academic affairs by Dean A. Michael Spence.

"Faculty development is the faculty side of human resources management," Spence said in announcing the appointment. "Attracting and supporting talented scholars and teachers, and providing the resources and environment in which they can work effectively together, are critical to the school's mission and strategy."

Spence noted that Baron recently chaired an interdisciplinary faculty group that recruited new faculty from several fields to teach human resources management.

Baron received his doctorate in sociology from the University of California-Santa Barbara. With David Kreps, the Paul E. Holden Professor of Decision Sciences, he co-developed the precursor to the new MBA core course in human resources management. Baron and Kreps are writing a book about the subject that integrates insights from a variety of functional fields and social science disciplines; it will provide a framework for linking human resources practices to the strategy, technology, environment, culture and workforce of an organization.

Baron's previous research examines the structure of employment systems and their effects on organizations and their members. He has conducted large-scale studies of public and private organizations to identify factors that encourage or hinder job integration, pay equity, and promotion opportunities for women and minorities. He is currently examining how young, emerging companies respond to rapid growth and change; how workplace networks affect employee behavior and attitudes in high-technology companies, with particular emphasis on male-female differences; and how organizational and environmental factors explain gender and race differences in career outcomes.

Since joining the Business School faculty in 1982, Baron has taught at both the MBA and doctoral levels, as well as in several of the school's executive programs.

Baron will serve with two other academic associate deans: George G. C. Parker, the director of the MBA Program; and Garth Saloner, the Robert A. Magowan Professor of Economics and Strategic Management. Saloner, who was named associate dean last April, continues to serve as director of research and course development.

-jz-

940809Arc4169.html

This is an archived release.

This release is not available in any other form. Images mentioned in this release are not available online.
Stanford News Service has an extensive library of images, some of which may be available to you online. Direct your request by EMail to newslibrary@stanford.edu.