Contact
330 Mervis Hall
craft@katz.pitt.edu
412-648-1680
Profile
James A. Craft was a member of the faculty of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University for several years. He has served as a Brookings Economic Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C., and has been employed as a labor force analyst with the U.S. Department of Labor. He has been a visiting professor at Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria (Valparaiso, Chile) and the International Management Center (Budapest, Hungary). In addition, he has lectured on human resources topics in universities and in business programs in Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
Craft has researched and published extensively in the field of human resources and labor relations. Current research activities include an inquiry into the elements of organizational human resources strategy, the use of human resources systems to enhance organizational competitiveness, the role of the church and religion in labor relations, and an examination of the evolving characteristics of unions and collective bargaining.
He holds memberships in several professional societies, including the Academy of Management, the Labor and Employment Relations Association, WorldatWork (American Compensation Association), the Society for Human Resources Management, the Human Resource Planning Society, and the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association. He is a member of Sigma Xi (National Scientific Honorary) and Beta Gamma Sigma (National Business Honorary). He served as president of the Beta of Pennsylvania Chapter of BGS for more than a decade.
Craft has held several administrative positions in the Katz Graduate School of Business and the University. He has served twice as Coordinator (chairperson) of the KGSB Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Faculty, he was the first Academic Director of the Executive MBA Program, he has been the Director of the KGSB doctoral program, he has chaired numerous task forces dealing with internal school processes or issues, he has been an elected member of the University Senate and an appointed member of the University Review Board, and he has twice served as Interim/Acting Director for the Center for Latin American Studies in the University Center for International Studies.
Courses Recently Taught
- Human Resources for Competitive Advantage (MBA)
- Human Resources Planning and Strategy 1 & 2 (MBA)
- Global Research Practicum: Latin America (MBA)
- Compensation and Performance Management (Undergraduate)
- Behavioral Systems and Management Thought (PhD)
- Foundations of Human Resources Management (PhD)
Areas of Expertise
Behavioral Science
Awards and Honors
- Recognized as an outstanding teacher in the College of Business Administration, 2000
- Recognized for teaching excellence in the MBA program, 2002-03
- Recognized as an “EMBA Outstanding Faculty Partner 2009”
Professional Service and Activities
Craft has served as associate editor for the journal Human Resource Planning (People and Strategy) and was a member of its editorial board for 25 years. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Labor Research. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors, contributing editor to the professional newsletter, and founding chair of the Research Committee of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association. He is a past president of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Industrial Relations Research Association.
Consulting Activities
Craft has been a consultant to the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. General Accounting Office, and the Vermont Department of Employment Security. He also has served as a consultant on human resources management issues with numerous private business firms, health organizations, and nonprofit agencies, including Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Westmoreland Hospital, D’Appolonia International Inc., Koppers Company Inc., Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania, Mobay Corporation, Ketchum Public Relations, Thermal Industries, and others. He has worked as an executive coach to assist in developing managerial effectiveness.
Degrees
- PhD in Organizational Behavior and Industrial Relations, University of California at Berkeley
- MBA in Industrial Relations, University of California at Berkeley
- BA in Political Economy, Claremont McKenna College
Recent Publications
“Future directions in labor relations: A 2025 perspective,” In Charles Wankel (Ed.), Handbook of 21st Century Management, Sage Publications (2007) pp. 167-176.
“Unions and legitimacy: A review and perspective,”Journal of Labor Research Vol 25, No. 4 (Fall 2004) pp. 67-675.
“Human resource strategy.” In L. Peters, S. Youngblood, C.R. Greer (eds.), The Blackwell Dictionary of Human Resources Management, Oxford: Blackwell (Malden: MA, 1997); in S. Cartwright (ed.) Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management: Human Resources Management (2nd Edition, 2005); in J. McNett, et al. (eds.), Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management: International Management (2nd edition, 2005).
“Future directions in public sector labor relations: A 2020 perspective,” Journal of Labor Research Vol. 24, No. 4 (Fall 2003).
“Union violence: A review and critical assessment,” Journal of Labor Research, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Summer 2001).
“Comentarios sobre el caso ‘Casual Clothes S.A.,'” Decisiones, Ano 1, Numero 4 (Septiembre 2000).
“Input-output analysis for organizational human resources management” (with Hector Correa), OMEGA: The International Journal of Management Science, Vol. 27 (1999); Reprinted as Analisis de entradas y salidas para la administracion del recurso human organizacional, in H. Correa, et al, Management: Vision Global Para El Mundo de los Negocios (GABL Internacional Marketing y Finanzas Ltda de Columbia, 2003).
Academic Area
Organizations and Entrepreneurship
Personal Interests
Jim Craft finds both relaxation and opportunities for alternative forms of self-expression through gardening and year-round growing of all types of plants, developing his skills as a folk music guitarist, and writing poetry about the extraordinary experience of living.
