It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend, colleague, and mentor of 56 years, Jamshid Gharajedaghi, who left us on May 30. 2026. As a professor of systems thinking and director of the Wharton School’s Busch Center—the practice arm of Social Systems Sciences—Jamshid inspired generations of students, scholars, and practitioners through his teaching, practice, and his leadership.

Jamshid joined Russell Ackoff and other colleagues in formally establishing INTERACT, the Institute for Interactive Management, as an independent organization. The institute became a pioneering center for systems methodologies, organizational design, and the resolution of complex organizational challenges.

Jamshid and Russ shared a remarkable relationship as friends, academic collaborators, and business partners. Together, they helped shape and advance the field of systems thinking through both their joint and independent work. Russ frequently acknowledged Jamshid's intellectual contributions, collaborated with him on influential projects, and incorporated many of their shared insights into the development of systems thinking frameworks.

When Jamshid published his landmark book, Systems Thinking: Managing Chaos and Complexity, Russ wrote the Foreword noting it is the most comprehensive description of systems methodology he had ever read and that the book develops a critical new pattern of thought necessary to solve the complex problems organizations face today.

Throughout his career, Ackoff described Gharajedaghi as a “delightful friend, invaluable colleague, and constant source of inspiration.” He often reflected on how their different cultural and philosophical perspectives enriched one another's understanding of systems theory. 

Jamshid immigrated to the United States following the Iranian Revolution. Although he spent nearly five decades in America, his love for Iran never diminished. He remained deeply connected to his homeland, possessing an extraordinary knowledge of Persian culture and a particular passion for Persian poetry. Throughout his life, he often served as a bridge between Persian and American cultures, helping each better understand and appreciate the other.

While pursuing his studies at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960s, Jamshid taught Persian language courses, sharing his language and culture with American students. After completing his education, he returned to Iran and began his professional career with IBM. He later joined the Industrial Management Institute (IMI), widely regarded as Iran's premier institution for management education, consulting, and research.

Jamshid's vision, leadership, and intellectual contributions were instrumental in shaping IMI into a world-class institution. Under his influence, the institute gained international recognition and became a leading center for management education and organizational development. Those who knew its history would agree that Jamshid played a pivotal role in creating IMI's distinctive character and establishing its reputation both within Iran and around the world.

For those of us fortunate enough to know him personally, Jamshid was far more than a distinguished scholar and pioneering systems thinker. He was a generous mentor, a trusted colleague, and a cherished friend whose wisdom, vision, and humanity touched countless lives. His legacy endures through his writings, his students, his colleagues, and the many organizations and leaders whose thinking he transformed.

He will be deeply missed and gratefully remembered.

- John Pourdehnad, June 1, 2026