Ole Thyssen

Ole Thyssen, born on November 3, 1944, is a Danish philosopher and sociologist, currently serving as a Professor at the Copenhagen Business School. He earned his Master of Arts from the University of Copenhagen in 1971 and completed his Doctor of Philosophy at the same institution in 1976. Initially, Thyssen's academic pursuits were rooted in Marxist philosophy, with notable works exploring psychoanalysis, Karl Marx, and Wilhelm Reich. However, from the mid-1980s onwards, his research focus underwent a significant transformation, shifting towards the sociological systems theory developed by Niklas Luhmann. This transition marked a move away from overtly political themes towards more sociological inquiries. In the mid-1990s, Thyssen was appointed Professor at the Copenhagen Business School. He was instrumental in establishing the combined MA degree in Business Administration and Philosophy in 1995. His recent scholarly contributions delve into areas such as management philosophy and values-based management, distinguishing it from value-based management. These works, along with numerous other sociological themes, are largely underpinned by Luhmann's systems theory. Thyssen's publications include the book 'Værdiledelse' (2007) and various articles in journals such as 'Human Systems Management,' 'Cybernetics & Human Knowing,' and 'Organization.'