Academic Directors Research Articles

Team learning as boundary crossing: incubating collaboration

ABSTRACT Academic incubators are used to support collaborative and entrepreneurial projects in order to catalyze innovative ideas into viable ventures. This study examined five seed-phase entrepreneurial teams who participated in an academic incubator at a graduate school of business in order to better understand what differentiated successful teams from unsuccessful teams. While traditional learning models describe the processes observed in successful teams, frameworks for understand internal team communication challenges help explain why some teams were able to develop success processes while others faltered. Unique features of high-innovation contexts and seed-phase entrepreneurs highlight the importance of communication across internal and external boundaries as well as honing external communication regarding the business case. Findings from this study suggest the value of learning to communicate across knowledge boundaries by making those boundaries explicit through the use of tools and protocols, which can be introduced by HRD professionals supporting teams in workplaces, academic incubator directors, research leads, mentors, and faculty instructing courses with collaborative learning components.

The approaches used to make change decisions and the influencing determinants

PurposeThis study aimed for the examination of the change decision-making approaches utilised by academic library directors and the identification and explanation of the determinants of the utilised approaches.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from a survey. The content analysis was utilised to analyse the qualitative data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data.FindingsThe findings resulted in the identification of the approaches used to make change decisions and three categories of determinants. Directors actually utilised multiple and dual approaches more than single approaches to make change decisions. The determinants of number of library branches, number of subordinates, total years of directorship and years of present position played a significant role in the utilised approaches to making change decisions. However, the findings demonstrate that the determinants of age, gender, library size, library type, number of different positions, total years of library service and education level were not significant determinants of the utilised approaches to making change decisions.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation is that the results of this study are not applicable and generalisable to academic libraries beyond this classification using in this study.Practical implicationsThe change decision-making approaches and the identified determinants will be useful and valuable for leaders and managers to make better decisions while managing change in the digital age.Originality/valueThe identification of the approaches and determinants provides information professionals with new knowledge and enables them to reflect the determinants of the utilised approaches and to make better change decisions in a given situation.

Verifying Medication Orders in the Older Population: Are We Using Enough Caution?

OBJECTIVE: To test the common hypothesis that pharmacists may use more caution and resources when processing pediatric versus geriatric medication orders in the hospital setting.<br/> DESIGN: A 26-item electronic survey was distributed to a sample of participating academic medical-center pharmacy directors with the request to disseminate it to staff pharmacists. The survey was resent at two-week intervals on two occasions.<br/> MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): To identify if pharmacists take more caution when processing geriatric or pediatric medication orders, to characterize the frequency pharmacists use drug information resources when processing these orders, and to assess the level of importance pharmacists place on guidelines for medication error prevention when processing medication orders.<br/> RESULTS: A total of 173 out of 271 pharmacists completed the survey, resulting in a high final completion rate of 63.8%. Most were clinical, residencytrained pharmacists. A majority of respondents stated that they take more caution when verifying pediatric medication orders than they do for orders for older people (125 out of 172, or 72.7%). Pharmacists report they were 4.2 times more likely to refer to a drug information resource for ≥ 50% of pediatric orders versus geriatric orders (pediatric: 118 out of 171, or 69.0% vs. geriatric: 59 out of 172, or 34.3%; P < 0.001, or 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.156 [2.647-6.524]). Finally, pharmacists familiar with the guidelines for medication error prevention were 2.3 times more likely to state the pediatric guidelines were very important (pediatric: 51/171, or 29.8% vs. geriatric: 27/172, or 15.7%; P = 0.002, or 95% CI 2.28 [1.35-3.86]).<br/> CONCLUSION: This survey reveals evidence for attitudinal differences in work practices for pharmacists working with medication orders relating to different age groups. Given the challenges involved in drug treatment for the older patient population, a similar level of caution, preparedness to refer to drug information, and to use guidelines should apply for both pediatric medication orders and those for older people, in order to provide safe and comprehensive care.

From classroom to boardroom: The value of academic independent directors in China

Academic independent directors account for a significant fraction of boards of directors and play important roles. Using Chinese data, we find that stock prices drop by 1.39% following unexpected resignations of academic independent directors due to the ambiguity of a regulation, and by 1.74% following another regulation that explicitly prohibits professors with administrative positions from serving as independent directors. Cross-sectional tests show that the market reacts more negatively when the affected academic director holds more subcommittee chair positions or directorships, assumes a position on the board before the current CEO is in charge, comes from a top-tier university, has high-quality foreign academic experience, or works for firms that are in greater need of monitoring and advisory services. The results from the two samples are broadly consistent. We also offer some explanations for the prevalence of academic independent directors in China. Overall, our results indicate that academic independent directors in China create value for shareholders through both monitoring and advising.

Professors on boards and corporate innovation in China

ABSTRACT Using a dataset of listed companies in China, this article finds strong evidence suggesting that academic independent directors on boards have statistically significant and economically substantial promotion effects on corporate innovation. On average, professor directors increase invention-type patent applications and grants by 11% and 7%, respectively. We use Heckman two-stage estimation to address selection bias, and we design two quasi-natural experiments taking advantage of China’s regulatory requirement of six-year tenure expiration for all independent directors and exploiting sudden departures of professor directors due to their personal reasons, respectively, to abate endogeneity. Our results endure these econometric treatments and a series of robustness checks. Furthermore, we document evidence that the advice, conduit, and connectivity channels all work in forming the professor director’s promotion effects on corporate innovation. Moreover, we find that other two types of independent directors, politicians and business people, have hardly any effect on the promotion of corporate innovation.

University social responsibility: perceptions and advances

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the perception of professors, students, administrative staff and academic directors about social responsibility in four universities of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) – Brazil. Design/methodology/approach The research was carried out in four universities in RN, Brazil. A survey was conducted with 1,318 students, 118 members of the administrative team, 104 professors and 29 academic directors, to whom a Likert-type questionnaire was applied, with 65 items allocated in seven dimensions as follows: organizational governance, human rights, work practices, environment, legal practices, consumer issues and community involvement and development. Exploratory factorial analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were the statistics used to analyze the data. Findings The research showed difficulties in assessing social responsibility aspects because of the lack of discussion and little socialization and debate of the data. Concerning everyday issues such as student service, environment issues, working conditions and local development is an exception because they have explicit opinions and often negative perceptions. Research limitations/implications The data used were self-reported they were subjected to bias, such as self-attribution and selective perception by community members. The lack of a theoretical model of social responsibility to study a non-profit organization. This study offers a theoretical contribution to analyzing six variables in non-profit organizations. Practical implications The data collection instrument also contribute to Brazilian universities can meet the evaluation criteria of higher education institutions in Brazil by Law 10.861/04, which established the national higher education evaluation system. Social implications This contribution allowed the authors to understand, which of them find the most consensus among stakeholders and which are the most contradictory, as well as to promote improvements in the implementation of social responsibility policies. The proposal of the instrument results in concrete actions for the adoption of the university, to accelerate the implementation of ISO 26000 in its statutes. Originality/value The study on social responsibility at universities of RN, Brazil, under dimensions of organizational governance, human rights, work practices, environment, legal practices, consumer issues, and community involvement and development is innovative and supports other universities to think their processes and better contribute in training new generations of citizens and professionals.

Transformational leadership practice in the world’s leading academic libraries

This article analyzes 12 semi-structured interviews within the framework of transformational leadership, using a set of open-ended questions addressed to 12 directors (six men and six women) of academic libraries in high-ranking universities in four different countries (Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America). It also investigates the interviewees’ approach to managing and leading their library organizations within the context of the opportunities and challenges facing their organizations as well as their parent institutions. The interpretation of the participants’ responses is based on the four ‘I’s, the four dimensions of the concept of transformational leadership: (1) Idealized influence, (2) Inspirational motivation, (3) Intellectual stimulation, and (4) Individualized consideration. The findings indicated that academic library directors who chose to implement transformational leadership noted its significance as a major contributing factor to the enhancement of inner communication and building mutual trust, and respect within the library organization. This, in turn, has fostered a motivated and creative work environment that has ensured personal and collective success and institutional advancement. Transformational leadership contributes to promoting sustained organizational performance based on adaptability to the rapidly changing environment of academic libraries worldwide.

The Value of Academic Independent Directors

This paper investigates the value of academic independent directors (ADs) by exploring an unexpected policy shock that forces ADs to resign from Chinese listed firms. Around the announcement of the policy, stock prices of firms with ADs drop by 2.2%, which translates to a loss of 135M RMB (around $19.3M). ADs with backgrounds that are related to the firms’ primary line of business, with connections to industry associations, and who hold top positions in prestigious universities are more valuable to firms. ADs with business backgrounds are more valuable when they serve on particular board subcommittees. Moreover, ADs miss fewer board meetings. In the long run, firm fundamentals and independent directors’ monitoring and advising efficiency deteriorate significantly after ADs resign. Our paper sheds new light on the value of independent directors.

The Big Picture: Trends from the Academic Business Library Directors’ Year in Review Reports 2018-2019

The Big Picture: Trends from the Academic Business Library Directors’ Year in Review Reports 2018-2019

STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY: INSIGHTS FROM MALAYSIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY POLICY-MAKERS

Purpose: This study aims to identify the focus and strategies of Malaysian public universities to enhance graduates’ competency levels, as well as their key challenges. Methodology: The study used an exploratory approach, applying a qualitative method. Data were collected at eight selected public universities in Malaysia through face-to-face interviews with expert informants that included a deputy vice chancellor of academic affairs and directors in charge of graduate employability. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings: The results revealed the practical roles of Malaysian public universities in enhancing graduates’ competency levels and subsequently securing their employability by meeting market demands. Nonetheless, stronger changes and reforms at the institutional level are needed to support the degree of competency among graduates, such as improving teaching methods and programmes offered. Furthermore, university–industry collaboration should also be strengthened to develop a competitive and capable talent pool in the country. Significance: The paper extends the core focus and strategies that have been implemented by public universities by providing more detailed and practical solutions to ensure that curriculum design more effectively supports the development of graduate competency. The study findings are useful for improving universities’ strategies and implementation processes to pursue a balanced quality of education in developing future talent.

Analysis, Measurement, and Evaluation of Sustainable Development in Aleshtar City using AHP-Fuzzy and TOPSIS Models

The sustainable development denotes the balanced status among various dimensions of development that aims to improve conditions of quality of life for the human. Urban sustainable development is deemed as the ideal objective for the planners and urban development directors in order to exploit suitably from the resources and to establish balanced relationship among human and community and nature. The present research mainly aims to extract and measure parameters of urban sustainable development in 4 regions in Aleshtar city (Lorestan Province- Iran). This study is an applied research in terms of goal and descriptive- analytical type in terms of methodology and based on librarian and field studies. The selected parameters were collected at two phases by study on backgrounds (research projects, statistical newsletters and books) and employing votes and comments from experts (using Delphi technique and extraction from comments of academic theorists and directors of relevant organizations) and they were merged together using Delphi technique. Parameters were weighted and analyzed by means of two models (TOPSIS and AHP-Fuzzy) after extraction and they were interpolated by GIS software and using Semivariogram tool. The research findings show that Region-3 has the highest rank (weight value= 0.627). After this region, Regions 2, 4 and 1 have devoted subsequent preferences with weighted values of 0.602, 0.578 and 0.541, respectively. Some strategies are suggested in order to moderate parameters of urban sustainability throughout regions of Aleshtar city including rising awareness of city dwellers about urban sustainable development plans, making the inhabitants familiar with parameters of a suitable city and creation and developing of a dynamic transportation system and establishing healthy housing in Regions 1, 2 and 4, increasing area of green space, establishing healthcare administration in Aleshtar Municipality and creating healthcare- medical institutes and centers etc.

Perceptions of practical knowledge of learning and feedback among academic teachers

ABSTRACTThis study explores how engineering academic teachers perceive their practical knowledge on learning and feedback. Academic teachers and education directors of different disciplines in an engineering university were interviewed. Responses were analysed using the matrix method and cross-case analysis. Five different profiles emerged that provided insight into educators’ practical knowledge on learning and feedback and the associated relations. Feedback is not only a necessary tool to foster learning but is also intrinsically interlinked to learning. Learning and feedback were observed to be dynamic during the study programme. Findings suggest that learning theories can be useful to label, describe, and interpret practical knowledge on learning and feedback. The study has practical implications for those supporting academic teachers’ professional development in higher engineering education (HEE) with respect to providing feedback.

Global integration and local responsiveness in managing international branch campuses: an empirical investigation of McGill MBA Japan Program

ABSTRACT The study investigates the practices of the McGill MBA Japan Program in dealing with the issue of adapting to the host country while providing education comparable to that of the home institution. Based on semi-structured interviews with academic directors, academic staffs, administrators, students and other stakeholders of the McGill MBA Japan Program, we found that the McGill MBA Japan Program maintained a very high degree of global integration with the home institution regarding staffing and curriculum and like many other international branch campuses, it does not emphasise the importance of localising research in operation. These findings, we argue, result from the interaction between the McGill MBA Japan Program and its external stakeholders including McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, students, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan and local competitors.

Geriatric Health Experts Validate Oral Neglect Timelines for the Institutionalized Elderly.

The purpose of this follow-up Delphi survey was to have an expert panel of 31 academic geriatric physicians, geriatric nurses, and medical directors of nursing homes evaluate the original timeline set to avoid oral neglect of nursing home residents. The Oral Neglect in Institutionalized Elderly (ONiIE) timelines defined oral neglect as having occurred when >7 days for acute oral diseases/conditions or >34 days for chronic oral disease/conditions had passed between initial diagnosis and offering access to dental care to the long-term care (LTC) nursing home resident. The results of this follow-up Delphi survey validated those originally defined ONiIE timelines as 90% of this panel agreed with the original timelines. This ONiIE definition adds a broad-based validation for the ONiIE timelines for setting an oral health standard of care for institutionalized elderly residents of nursing homes and should now be used to protect the vulnerable elderly residing in LTC nursing homes.

Sustainable Board of Directors: Evidence from the Research Productivity of Professors Serving on Boards in the Korean Market

We examine the relationship between the expertise of outside directors from academia and firms’ financial performance using a unique dataset on the research publications of such directors. Specifically, we use research publication history in finance or an academic concentration in business or law as a proxy for expertise and measure the influence of this expertise on Korean financial firms’ short-term and long-term performance. We find a positive (negative) association between research intensity (a business or law concentration) and short-term corporate performance. Firms with greater information and agency problems appear to benefit more from research-intensive academic outside directors than other firms do. Thus, we propose that firms in emerging economies elect research-intensive academic outside directors to contribute to sustainable corporate governance and firm performance.

Prospects of library use data integration in campus information systems: A glocalized perspective

The study seeks to investigate the stakeholders’ perceptions of organizational forces and operational issues that weigh upon the academic library’s data capabilities, with a special focus on the Greek academic librarians’ appreciation of the prospects of library use data integration in campus information systems. Findings from online interviews with international learning analytics experts and Greek academic library directors, that aimed to record their viewpoints around difficulties of integrating library data into learning analytics systems, brought to light several interpretative, organizational culture, librarian professional development, and user buy-in concerns. Interviewees made several recommendations related to collective action, training, and communications also stressing the importance of institutional support and active involvement of professional associations. The analysis of the participants’ perspective provides a solid conceptual foundation for interpreting local issues associated with library use data capitalization within and beyond intra-institutional initiatives in the overarching goal to contribute actionable data to the development of context-specific tailor-made solutions.

37. NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF BOARD PREPARATION CURRICULA AND CERTIFICATION RATES AMONG U.S. PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY PROGRAMS

Background The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires pediatric residency programs to achieve an overall 70% pass rate on the American Board of Pediatrics Certification Exam. There is high variability in board preparation curricula among programs and minimal evidence showing which are the most effective in producing the highest certification rates. Objective To gain an understanding of the current board preparation landscape across pediatric residency programs and to evaluate the need for individualized and/or focused board preparation curricula. Methods A survey was distributed to all U.S. pediatric residency program directors by the Academic Pediatric Program Directors (n=209; response rate=35%). Programs were anonymously asked about their demographics, average in-training examination (ITE) scores and board pass rates, board preparation styles, and whether they are individualized and/or required for certain residents. Survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact tests. Results Overall, board preparation consists of a combination of lectures/didactics (n=68, 100%), completion of board-style questions (n=70, 98.5%), and/or a formalized comprehensive review course (n=68, 26.5%). While almost all programs required didactics (91.2%), only about half (52.2%) of programs required completion of self-directed questions for all residents. ITE scores were the most commonly used means of identifying which residents needed an individualized curriculum. Board pass rates were divided into 80% (above goal). Seven programs (10%) were considered below goal, while 13 (18.6%) were at risk. Table 1 shows that there is a statistically significant association between a requirement for completing self-directed questions and pass rates (p = 0.03). There were no statistically significant associations between other forms of board preparation and certification rates. Conclusion Future efforts should focus on personalizing each resident's board preparation curriculum, especially based on ITE scores.

The Data Swamp: Trends from the Academic Business Library Directors' Year in Review Report 2017-2018

The Data Swamp: Trends from the Academic Business Library Directors' Year in Review Report 2017-2018

Academic Business Library Directors Annual Meeting

Conference Report for Academic Business Library Directors 2015 Annual Meeting at the O wen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee), from April 21 to 23, 2015. This meeting was attended by 40 business libraries directors from across North America. The theme of the conference was Entrepreneurship and Innovation and how the member libraries met the needs of our respective campuses.

The value of academics: Evidence from academic independent director resignations in China

In this paper, we use academic independent director resignations induced by the introduction of the Regulation 11 prohibiting academics from holding positions in Chinese public companies to examine their contribution to firm value. We document a negative market reaction to the issuance of the Regulation 11 and to the academic director resignations. The negative market reaction to academic director resignations is sizeable and hold when we further control for the influence of director, board, and firm characteristics. We next use heterogeneity in the market response to academic director resignations to study what the market values in academic directors. We find supportive evidence of a monitoring contribution and mixed evidence of advising and networking contributions. Finally, we show that in the two years following the issuance of the Regulation 11, companies with at least one academic director on their board prior to Regulation 11 underperform relative to companies without any academic directors. Overall, our results are consistent with a positive contribution of academic independent directors to firm value.