Tom Burns

Tom Burns FBA (16 January 1913 – 20 June 2001) was an English sociologist, author and founder of the Sociology department at Edinburgh University.

Early life Burns was born on 16 January 1913 in Bethnal Green, East London. He attended Hague Street LCC elementary school and Parmiter's Foundation School before reading English Literature at Bristol University.

Career A Fellow of the British Academy, Tom Burns was Professor of Sociology at Edinburgh University from 1965 to 1981, is dedicated to Tom Burns. He retired from the University of Edinburgh in 1981.

Works First published in 1961, The Management of Innovation remains one of the most influential books of organization theory and industrial sociology. The central theme of the book is the relationship between an organization and its environment—particularly technological and market innovations. The book presents the authors' classifications of "mechanistic" and "organic" systems. For this it became famous, but the book is also a penetrating study of social systems within organizations and organizational dynamics.

In reviews of the book, ESRC News called it "one of the most influential books of organisation theory and industrial sociology ever written"; Christopher Lorenz at The Financial times noted "Written in refreshingly plain English, it is a riveting read and brims with insight after insight."

In 1977, he published The BBC: Public Institution and Private World. John Eldridge in the Independent observed "The original work for this was done in 1963. To his surprise, an experience he described as "utterly mystifying", the BBC refused to allow him to publish. But in 1972 the decision was changed. Burns used the opportunity to bring the study up to date and show how administrative changes were impinging on concepts of work, public service and commitment to the BBC. It is a book full of thoughtful analysis and sharp insights."

Legacy His final book was a comparative history of organization entitled Organisation and Social Order but it was never fully completed. The unfinished manuscript has been published online, together with a complete list of published writings. His work on the BBC has been referred to in the 2016 book, The BBC Myth of a Public Service.