Do Top Scholars Make the Best University Leaders?
8 January 2010 at 3:11 pm Peter G. Klein 2 comments
| Peter Klein |
Yes, says Amanda Goodall here and here. Here’s a summary and here’s some commentary. Her argument is based on inside knowledge, the ability to set appropriate standards, signaling, and legitimacy. Signaling strikes me as the most plausible (non-academic administrators may not have knowledge or legitimacy but they can hire subordinates who do). I haven’t studied the work carefully, however. Kudos to Goodall for tackling an important subject.
Her Vox article singles out economist-administrators for special mention. They seem to be doing quite well, Larry Summers notwithstanding.
Entry filed under: - Klein -, Education, Institutions, Management Theory, Theory of the Firm.
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Nicolai Foss | 8 January 2010 at 6:00 pm
Goodall will give a talk here at CBS January 21. Show up if you happen to be around …
2.
Nicolai Foss | 8 January 2010 at 6:36 pm
Correction: It is on the 22nd.
Here is another interesting Goodall (et al) paper: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1158980