Richard Albert Feiss (July 2, 1878 – June 4, 1954)[1] was an American lawyer, business manager, and president of Joseph & Feiss Co. in Cleveland, Ohio.[2] He is known as 6th president of the Taylor Society from 1922 to 1924.[3][4]

Richard Albert Feiss
Born(1878-07-02)July 2, 1878
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 4, 1954(1954-06-04) (aged 75)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationHarvard University (AB, LLB)
Occupation(s)president and co-owner
EmployerJoseph & Feiss Co.
Notable credit(s)President Taylor Society, 1922–1924

Biography

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Youth, education and early career

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Feiss was born and raised in Cleveland, son of Julius Feiss (1848–1931). He studied law at Harvard University, where he obtained his A.B. in 1901 and his L.L.B. in 1903.[5]

After his graduation Feiss had practiced law in New York for a year. In 1904 he returned to Cleveland to join the garment manufacturing company of his father, producer of men and boy's clothing. The company had just opened a new factory, which was "actively working to eliminate the evils of the "outside" shop system."[6]

Further career

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In 1907 the company adopted the new name and trademark, Joseph & Feiss. Feiss adopted the new scientific management principles, and "set out to manage the company’s work force in a manner that would maximize productivity but at the same time create a humane work environment that would keep workers healthy and happy."[7]

Feiss joined "together Taylor’s principles of scientific management with Progressive era welfare capitalism, establishing a work environment at Joseph & Feiss that many at the time viewed as the most progressive in America."[7]

From 1922 to 1924 Feiss served as president of the Taylor Society as successor of Henry P. Kendall, and succeeded by Percy S. Brown in 1924.

Selected publications

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Articles, a selection
Patents, a selection
  • "Carment and method of sewing sleeve linings into armholes thereof." U.S. Patent No 1,575,562, 1926.
  • 'Garment and method of making it." U.S. Patent No 1,578,969, 1926.
  • "Vent for full-lined garments and method of making it." U.S. Patent No 1,626,799, 1927.
Works about Feiss
  • Wrege, Charles D., and Bernice M. Lattanzio. "The Human Side of Enterprise"—Forty-Five Years Before McGregor, the Work of Richard A. Feiss, Early Explorer in Human Relations." Academy of Management Proceedings. Vol. 1977. No. 1. Academy of Management, 1977.
  • Goldberg, David J. "Richard A. Feiss, Mary Barnett Gilson, and Scientific Management at Joseph & Feiss, 1909-1925." A Mental Revolution: Scientific Management since Taylor, Columbus: Ohio State University (1992): 40–57.
  • Wrege, Charles D., Regina A. Greenwood, and Sakae Hata. "What we do not know about management history: Some categories of research and methods to uncover management history mysteries." Journal of Management History 5.7 (1999): 414–424.

References

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  1. ^ Academy of Management. Proceedings. Volumes 36-37. 1976. p. 6
  2. ^ Joseph & Feiss Co., at Case Western Reserve University, 2017.
  3. ^ Bulletin of the Taylor Society. Vol. 7, No 2, April. 1922. p. 1
  4. ^ Industry Week, Volume 74. 1924. p. 365: Richard A. Feiss... re-elected president of the Taylor society for the ensuing year.
  5. ^ Harvard Alumni Directory, 1914. p. 1496
  6. ^ Charles D. Wrege, Ronald G. Greenwood. Frederick W. Taylor, the father of scientific management: myth and reality. Business One Irwin, 1991.
  7. ^ a b Jim Dubelko, "The Joseph and Feiss Company," at clevelandhistorical.org, 2014-17. Accessed September 27, 2017.
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