Gerrit Broekstra
Encyclopedia
Gerrit Broekstra is a Dutch scientist and professor in the field of organization behavior and systems sciences at the Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam
, Northwestern University
, Chicago
, and Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands.
in physics
in 1966 from the Delft University of Technology
and earned his PhD in physics
in 1973 at the Eindhoven University of Technology
in The Netherlands.
From 1966-1973 he was a manager of the fast growing Physics Department of the National Defense Organization of TNO
.In 1978 he was the first engineer to be elected as a Research Fellow of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study
(NIAS) in Wassenaar, the Netherlands. In 1973 he joined the business school which became later the Rotterdam School of Management
of the Erasmus University, of which he was the first dean. Since the 1980s he is a professor of organization behavior and systems sciences at the Erasmus Universiteit in Rotterdam
, the Kellogg School of Management
, Northwestern University
in Chicago
and the Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. He also serves on the editorial boards of various international journals.
Broekstra has been organisationally active in the systems movement. For eight years he was the President of the Dutch Systems Society, the 'Systeemgroep Nederland'. He was the third President of the International Federation for Systems Research
in Vienna. He is on the Advisory Board of the International Institute for General Systems Studies
. He was program director of the Rabobank Executive MBA and executive dean of the Nyenrode Executive Management Development Center.
, complexity
and systems science
. He has also initiated or spearheaded various educational programs, and "consulting
projects for multi-nationals such as SHV, KLM, Mercedes-Benz, Cosun, Arcadis, Ten Cate, Rabobank, and more, and has a substantial record in designing and facilitating Strategic Search Conferences for both business and government".
Books, a selection:
Articles, a selection:
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands.
Biography
Broekstra was born in 1941 in Alkmaar in Holland. He received an Engineer's degreeEngineer's degree
An engineer's degree is an advanced academic degree in engineering that is conferred in Europe, some countries of Latin America, and a few institutions in the United States....
in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1966 from the Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology , also known as TU Delft, is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands...
and earned his PhD in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1973 at the Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven University of Technology
The ' is a university of technology located in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The motto of the university is: Mens agitat molem . The university was the second of its kind in the Netherlands, only Delft University of Technology existed previously. Until mid-1980 it was known as the...
in The Netherlands.
From 1966-1973 he was a manager of the fast growing Physics Department of the National Defense Organization of TNO
TNO
TNO can stand for:* Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek * Trans-Neptunian object* Tamarindo Airport in Tamarindo, Costa Rica...
.In 1978 he was the first engineer to be elected as a Research Fellow of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study
The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Wassenaar, the Netherlands, is an independent research institute in the field of the humanities and social and behavioural sciences founded in 1970...
(NIAS) in Wassenaar, the Netherlands. In 1973 he joined the business school which became later the Rotterdam School of Management
Rotterdam School of Management
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is the international business school of the Erasmus University Rotterdam located in Rotterdam, Netherlands...
of the Erasmus University, of which he was the first dean. Since the 1980s he is a professor of organization behavior and systems sciences at the Erasmus Universiteit in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Kellogg School of Management
Kellogg School of Management
The Kellogg School of Management is the business school of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, downtown Chicago, Illinois and Miami, Florida. Kellogg offers full-time, part-time, and executive programs, as well as partnering programs with schools in China, India, Hong Kong, Israel,...
, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and the Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. He also serves on the editorial boards of various international journals.
Broekstra has been organisationally active in the systems movement. For eight years he was the President of the Dutch Systems Society, the 'Systeemgroep Nederland'. He was the third President of the International Federation for Systems Research
International Federation for Systems Research
The International Federation for Systems Research is an international federation for global and local societies in the field of systems science...
in Vienna. He is on the Advisory Board of the International Institute for General Systems Studies
International Institute for General Systems Studies
The International Institute for General Systems Studies is an American non-profit scholastic organization for the advancement of scientific studies and education in Systems science and Systemic research with applications in all branches of science and human affairs.The International Institute for...
. He was program director of the Rabobank Executive MBA and executive dean of the Nyenrode Executive Management Development Center.
Work
During his career Broekstra has focused on themes such as intelligent organizations and organizational renewal through applying concepts from chaosChaos theory
Chaos theory is a field of study in mathematics, with applications in several disciplines including physics, economics, biology, and philosophy. Chaos theory studies the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, an effect which is popularly referred to as the...
, complexity
Complexity
In general usage, complexity tends to be used to characterize something with many parts in intricate arrangement. The study of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory. In science there are at this time a number of approaches to characterizing complexity, many of which are...
and systems science
Systems science
Systems science is an interdisciplinary field of science that studies the nature of complex systems in nature, society, and science. It aims to develop interdisciplinary foundations, which are applicable in a variety of areas, such as engineering, biology, medicine and social sciences.Systems...
. He has also initiated or spearheaded various educational programs, and "consulting
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
projects for multi-nationals such as SHV, KLM, Mercedes-Benz, Cosun, Arcadis, Ten Cate, Rabobank, and more, and has a substantial record in designing and facilitating Strategic Search Conferences for both business and government".
Publications
Broekstra has written over a hundred books and articles in international journals and conference proceedings.Books, a selection:
- Systemen en Toekomstverkenning: Onder Auspiciën Van De Systeemgroep Nederland, with J. S. Knipscheer and the Dutch Systems GroupDutch Systems GroupThe Dutch Systems Group, or Netherlands Society for Systems Research or Systeemgroep Nederland, is a society in the Netherlands for systems theory, and its applications...
, E. Stenfert Kroese, ISBN 9020706438 (90-207-0643-8) - 1989, Creating intelligent organizations.Delft: Eburon.
- 1992, Science, Management and Entrepreneurship, with J. Bartel, Leiden: Stenfert Kroese Publishers.
- 2009, Deep leadership: the secret of right action in uncertain times. Kampen: TenHave (in Dutch)
Articles, a selection:
- 1994, 'Problems of chaotic simplicity: Weaver revisited', in: Robert TrapplRobert TrapplRobert Trappl is an Austrian scientist, and Professor at the Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, known for his work in the field of cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence.- Biography :...
(ed.) Cybernetics & Systems '94. Singapore: World Scientific. - 1996, 'A complexity perspective of organizing', in: Robert TrapplRobert TrapplRobert Trappl is an Austrian scientist, and Professor at the Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, known for his work in the field of cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence.- Biography :...
(ed.) Cybernetics & Systems '96. Vienna: Austr. Soc. Cybernetics Studies. - 1996, 'The triune brain metaphor: the evolution of the living organization', in: D.Grant & C. Oswick (eds.) Metaphor and organizations. London: Sage Publications.
- 1997, Organizations are Closed Systems, in: Glanville, "Problems of Excavating Cybernetics and Systems," Special Issue of Systemica. Southsea (UK): BKS.
- 1998, 'Unmanagement: Do the Emperors still have Clothes,' in: Robert TrapplRobert TrapplRobert Trappl is an Austrian scientist, and Professor at the Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, known for his work in the field of cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence.- Biography :...
, Cybernetics and Systems '98. Vienna: Austrian Society for Cybernetic Studies. - 1998, 'An organization is a conversation', in: D.Grant, T.Keenoy & C. Oswick (eds.), Discourse and organization. London: Sage Publications.
- 2002, 'A synergeticsSynergeticsSynergetics is an interdisciplinary science explaining the formation and self-organization of patterns and structures in open systems far from thermodynamic equilibrium. It is founded by Hermann Haken, inspired by the laser theory....
approach to disruptive innovation', Kybernetes, the Int. J. Systems & Cybernetics, vol. 31, no 9/10, pp. 1249-1259. - 2005, 'Bubble, critical zone and the crash of Royal AholdAholdAhold is a major international supermarket operator based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Ahold is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.-History:...
' (with Didier SornetteDidier SornetteDidier Sornette is Professor on the Chair of Entrepreneurial Risks at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich . He is also a professor of the Swiss Finance Institute, a professor associated with both the department of Physics and the department ofEarth Sciences at ETH Zurich, an Adjunct...
& Wei-Xing Zhou), Physica A 346, pp. 529-560.
External links
- Gerrit Broekstra biography, by Roland Buresund, 2010.