James W. Thacker

James W. Thacker Jim received an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Winnipeg in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and his doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology from Wayne State University. He is currently professor emeritus at the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business following his retirement in 2007, after 25 years of teaching, publishing, and otherwise doing his part for the greater good. His research has been published in both academic journals (Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, and Academy of Management Journal) and practitioner journals (Journal of Managerial Psychology and The Human Resource Consultation: An International Journal). He coauthored the first Canadian edition of Managing Human Resources with Wayne Cascio, published in 1994, and, with Nick Blanchard coauthored each edition of Effective Training: Systems, Strategies, and Practices.

Jim has been a consultant and trainer in the private sector (Ameritech, Ford, Hiram Walker’s, Navistar, H.J. Heinz, and Honda Canada) and public sector (Revenue Canada, CanAm Friendship Center, and City of Windsor). Before obtaining his doctorate, Jim has worked for a gas utility as a tradesman and served as vice president of his local union (Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers) for a number of years. This firsthand experience as a tradesman and union official, combined with his consulting and academic credentials, provides Jim with a unique combination of perspectives and skills.