Alfred D. Chandler, Jr: Historical impact and historical scope of his works

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to summarize the life and works of Alfred Chandler and highlight the impact of his thoughts on organizational theory, strategy and history. Design/methodology/approach: The paper analyzes Alfred Chandler's life and the lasting contributions his works have provided to many disciplines as well as the work of his revisionists. Furthermore, the paper analyzes his contributions to the understanding of US business history and global business history. Findings: Chandler's conceptualization of the growth of large business and management practices have shaped business history by transitioning from an American exceptionalist view to a more global comparative perspective. Practical implications: The paper provides Chandler's insights as well as those of his revisionists regarding USA and comparative global business history. Originality/value: The paper highlights Chandler's cross-disciplinary impact and analyzes Chandlerian and revisionist perspectives in both the American exceptionalist as well as the global comparative eras of Chandler's life.