Ensuring technical competency for management of research-focused organizations
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
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Author
Date
2018
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
172-180
Series
Journal of High Technology Management Research, Volume 29, issue 2
Abstract
Does a national research-focused organization need a technically competent leader? This study provides preliminary answers to that question using a natural experiment underway at the Department of Energy (DOE): a leader with significant high-level management experience superior to that of his predecessors, but no relevant technical experience was appointed to run the vast scientific research operation. The following hypothesis is proposed: A major risk of allowing technically-unqualified leadership is that an amateur can be more easily manipulated by special interests against the best interests of the nation. The hypothesis is tested by technically analyzing three case studies on proposals from the Secretary of Energy. The results show 1) requests for budget cuts undermining DOE's mission, 2) requests for redundant studies wasting DOE resources, and 3) counter-productive recommendations derived from a misrepresentation of the studies' results, which indicate technical competence is important for DOE leadership. These preliminary results indicate technical competency is important for leaders running organizations that oversee research. Finally, a potential policy safe guard to the risks of extreme technical incompetence is provided, which can be applied to either independent- or politically-appointed bureaucrats.Description
Keywords
Bureaucrats, Leadership, Management, Political appointments, Research organization, Technical competence
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Citation
Pearce , J M 2018 , ' Ensuring technical competency for management of research-focused organizations ' , Journal of High Technology Management Research , vol. 29 , no. 2 , pp. 172-180 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hitech.2018.09.002
