Ancient Competencies

Taïeb Hafsi

Professor Emeritus in Strategic Management HEC Montréal, Canada (Born 1944) Specializations: Corporate strategy, organizational change, international management, economic development

Origins & Education

Taïeb Hafsi was born in 1944 in Saïda, a city located in western Algeria, in a particularly significant historical context. His youth unfolded during the French colonial period, then during the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), formative experiences that would profoundly influence his understanding of organizational dynamics and change.

Coming from a family that valued education, he showed an early interest in science and mathematics. This natural aptitude led him to pursue higher education in demanding technical fields, already revealing his ability to navigate between different disciplines and academic cultures.

Initial Technical Training: He began his higher education with meteorological engineering in Paris, training that provided him with scientific rigor and a systemic approach to complex phenomena. This first French education allowed him to master advanced analytical methods and develop structured thinking.

Further Studies in Algeria: Returning to Algeria, he continued his studies in chemical engineering at the University of Algiers, deepening his understanding of industrial processes and system optimization. This period coincided with the early years of Algerian independence and the challenges of building a modern state.

Excellence in Management Education: Recognizing the growing importance of management in economic development, he turned to business administration. He obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), then continued his education at Harvard Business School, one of the most renowned institutions worldwide in management.

In 1981, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis in business administration policy at Harvard, dedicating his research to corporate strategies and organizational transformations. This elite education gave him exceptional mastery of contemporary management theories and practices.

Career

Taïeb Hafsi's career is structured around his commitment to HEC Montréal, where he developed internationally recognized expertise in strategic management and became a reference in his field.

Arrival at HEC Montréal (1984): He joined HEC Montréal in 1984, attracted by the institution's reputation for excellence and the research opportunities it offered. His integration took place in a context of strong school growth and development of its international programs.

Walter J. Somers Chair: He became holder of the prestigious Walter J. Somers Chair in International Strategic Management, a position that allowed him to develop his research on corporate strategies in a global context. This well-funded chair offered him the freedom necessary to conduct ambitious research projects and train a new generation of researchers.

Areas of Expertise: He specialized in managing complex organizations, a particularly relevant field in the contemporary context. His research focuses notably on:

• Public enterprises and their transformation toward more efficient models
• Management of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their social impact
• Governance and strategic management of governmental institutions
• Internationalization strategies and cultural adaptation
• Organizational change in multicultural contexts

Foundation of "Management international": Recognizing the need for a quality francophone academic publication in his field, he founded the journal "Management international", which quickly became a reference in the francophone scientific community. This initiative demonstrates his commitment to knowledge dissemination and the development of research in French.

Professional Engagement: He is an active member of the Strategic Management Society, the most prestigious professional association in his field, contributing to international academic debates and the development of the discipline.

International Influence: His career is characterized by numerous international collaborations, conferences at the world's greatest universities, and consulting missions with public and private organizations. He regularly participates in economic development projects, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.

Distinctions, Impact & Influence

Taïeb Hafsi has established himself as a major figure in international strategic management, recognized for his exceptional theoretical and practical contributions.

Major Academic Contributions: A prolific author, Taïeb Hafsi has published more than 25 books and numerous articles in the most prestigious academic journals in the field. His work is authoritative in several areas:

• Corporate Strategy: Development of innovative theoretical models for strategic analysis
• Organizational Change: Methodologies for transforming complex organizations
• Economic Development: Development strategies for emerging countries
• Intercultural Management: Management approaches in multicultural contexts

Training the Next Generation: Beyond his research, Hafsi has trained numerous doctoral students who today hold leadership positions in universities and companies around the world. His influence continues through this new generation of researchers and practitioners.

Influence on Public Policy: His work on public organization management influences administrative reforms and economic development policies, particularly in francophone countries.

International Recognition: He is regularly invited as a speaker at the world's greatest universities and sits on editorial boards of prestigious academic journals. His reputation extends well beyond the francophone world.

Legacy and Contemporary Contribution

Taïeb Hafsi's work continues to influence contemporary management research and practice. His theoretical models are applied in numerous organizations and his pedagogical approaches inspire management teachers around the world.

His commitment to developing francophone management research constitutes a lasting legacy, having contributed to legitimizing and developing management thinking in French in a field traditionally dominated by anglophone literature.

References and Bibliographical Sources:

• Official Sources:
• Wikipedia – Taïeb Hafsi - Reference biographical entry
• Official Page – HEC Montréal - Complete curriculum vitae
• HEC Mag – Interview with Taïeb Hafsi - Portrait and reflections
• Academic Publications:
• Hafsi, T. et al. Strategy of Organizations: A Synthesis - Reference work
• Hafsi, T. Management of Public Organizations - Theories and practices
• Management International Journal - Founded and directed by T. Hafsi
• Institutional Sources:
• HEC Montréal Archives - Files and publications
• Royal Society of Canada - Member notice
• Strategic Management Society - Contributions and participation
• Reference Works on His Contributions:
• Critical analyses of Hafsi's contributions to strategic management
• Impact studies of his research on public policies
• Testimonials from former students and collaborators
• International Sources:
• MIT Alumni Directory - Academic background
• Harvard Business School - Alumni archives
• International academic journals - Citations and references
• Contemporary Studies:
• Academy of Management - Research contributions
• Strategic Management Journal - Published articles
• International Business Review - Scholarly contributions