Joan Woodward (27 September 1916 – 1971) was a British professor in industrial sociology and organizational studies.
[1] She undertook her early research at South East Essex College of Technology, before joining Imperial College in 1957 as a part-time lecturer in Industrial Sociology and was appointed to a Senior Lectureship in the Production Engineering Section in 1962.
Her work received international recognition, leading to an invitation to join a group of the top seven organization theorists that was called the Magnificent Seven.
As the second woman to receive a chair at Imperial College,[4] Woodward is a role model for women in science, engineering and technology.
The bi-annual Joan Woodward Memorial Lecture takes place at Imperial College Business School.