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Pressures from globalization and the knowledge‐based economy are transforming the traditional role of universities. Universities are being targeted by policy makers because they…
Abstract
Pressures from globalization and the knowledge‐based economy are transforming the traditional role of universities. Universities are being targeted by policy makers because they are the largest “knowledge‐based” institutions in the regions. They have concluded that universities will aid economic regeneration if they disseminate their knowledge and expertise through industry linked partnerships. The paper argues that this is a rationally driven economic strategic plan which fails to acknowledge that the alliance process is a very high risk strategy at the level of implementation, with reports of as many as two thirds failing. The direct causal link between universities and economic regeneration is contentious. The paper calls for greater understanding of the complex partnership process by drawing on the strategic alliance literature on how to minimize risk. It critically analyses the case of a long established partnership between university‐industry‐government – the teaching company scheme. Important governance issues are identified followed by an analysis of the two stages in the process of partner selection and implementation. The process is promoted as an exemplar to inform the increasing number of public/private sector partnerships.
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The purpose of this research is to examine the largely ignored executive development needs of the reformed twenty‐first century public sector by executive education providers in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to examine the largely ignored executive development needs of the reformed twenty‐first century public sector by executive education providers in business schools.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is predominantly conceptual exploring the current debates on the effectiveness of public sector management and the requirements for more relevant management and executive education through a literature review. The antecedents of the current position are explored. Hypotheses are developed about the provision of executive education for the public sector within business schools. In the absence of previous investigations in this field, a preliminary survey is conducted employing the Financial Times top 60 ranked executive education, 2006, to test the hypothesis and underpin more in‐depth research.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that almost two‐thirds of the sample did not provide any executive education to the public sector, and most of the provision on offer was for specialised silos within the sector, or borrowed from existing private sector programmes. There was no support found from the sample for public sector new network governance or leadership challenges discussed in the paper. Findings also supported the view that there is a shortage of evidence‐based research for many of the executive programmes that are being offered.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is the first to explore the status of the field under investigation and provide a conceptual framework; whilst the preliminary empirical research has been an initial surface fact‐finding study to establish the level and size of the problem, this has been achieved. This paper will now underpin a rigorous empirical research programme to explore the subject matter in greater detail.
Practical implications
The findings support the hypothesis that executive education providers within business schools are failing to address the management development needs of senior executives in the public sector. The paper concludes that there are huge opportunities being missed by business schools both by their management faculty, to investigate and understand the problems of the sector, and by their executive education centres to co‐design and deliver programmes to assist the sector to transform and develop effectively to meet the challenges posed by a more globalized, complex, networked world. The paper invites them to engage.
Originality/value
This paper investigates a subject that has been identified by the Academy of Management as important. It requires further research but has hitherto not received much attention from the research community.