THE CAFETERIA APPROACH TO MANAGING AN ACADEMIC CAREER: REMAINING NON-PERISHABLE WHILE DOING YOUR OWN THING Developments In Business Simulation & Experiential Learning, Volume 24, 1997 306 The Cafeteria Approach to Managing an Academic Career: Remaining Non-perishable While Doing Your Own Thing Robert E. Ledman, Morehouse College Sandra Morgan, University of Hartford Selime Sezgin, Istanbul Technical University FORMAT Type of session: Roundtable discussion. Presentation from three authors followed by general discussion. INTRODUCTION The traditional view of an academic career is one of “publish or perish.” In this model one is rewarded for research and publishing. Furthermore, that research is expected to have a consistent theme or focus and increase our knowledge in a specific subject area. To be truly successful under this model, the publishing record should include articles in "top tier” journals. Thus, the typical doctoral program emphasizes research. Students work with regular faculty as research assistants and take courses in statistics and research methods. However, the "publish and perish” model is not the only approach that can lead to a successful career. In many institutions a three dimensional approach of teaching, publishing and service is the norm. It might even be argued that this more balanced approach is gaining in popularity, at least if one accepts at face value what is being written about the changes in higher education. This more balanced view has brought about a reexamination of the traditional academic career. Accrediting bodies are putting more emphasis on outcomes. Students and parents are demanding more accountability for their money and colleges and universities are competing more vigorously for students. These forces have caused many institutions to examine their “product” and realize that more emphasis must be placed on teaching excellence, building partnerships with the surrounding community, and delivering value to the consumer. The result of these changes is a reassessment of the traditional approaches to promotion and tenure decisions. However, in a typical doctoral program there is not much discussion of how to remain non-perishable and still be able to do your own thing. This round-table/workshop has the goal of assisting faculty who want a career with more freedom to understand the ramifications of such a decision and hear about tested implementation strategies. The presenters have all taken non- traditional approaches to their careers and met with success. They have learned what is not taught in doctoral programs and is often learned only by trial and error. They will share what they have learned and the insights they have gained about how to have a fulfilling, successful, academic career while having the freedom to “do your own thing” and choose from a menu of options. Developments In Business Simulation & Experiential Learning, Volume 24, 1997 307 METHOD The presenters will-each make a brief presentation of 5-10 minutes. They will then lead a discussion focusing on designing a successful academic career strategy for those who are not inclined to do a substantial amount of research in a specific topic over a number of years (the traditional view of academic success). The discussion will cover several’ areas. First, what are the limitations of a career in an environment that is not “publish or perish?” Second, how do I know if a non- traditional academic career is for me? Third, what are the rewards of a career that balances teaching, service and research? Fourth, will I be able to find a job if I do not have a record of publishing that demonstrates a consistent focus? Other issues of interest to participants will be explored as they arise. PRESENTATION SUMMARIES Presenter One The first presenter has had a successful career as a faculty member in two liberal arts colleges and a small university. The first position he assumed while completing his dissertation. The second position he obtained was in a university with a business school. His third position is in a nationally ranked liberal arts college whose business program is in candidacy for AACSB accreditation each position resulted in progressively higher salaries. One of the small liberal arts colleges heavily emphasized teaching and college service/ governance in evaluations. The small university emphasized a balance of teaching, service and research with research being of lesser importance. He is currently teaching at a liberal arts institution that emphasizes teaching while expecting scholarly activity that includes publishing and presenting. He will briefly summarize his career in small teaching-oriented institutions. From his own experiences he will discuss the limitations presented when one teaches in small colleges: limited resources, lower salaries, and heavier teaching loads. He will also discuss the benefits of such an environment flexibility to do research in any area(s) of one’s choosing, smaller class sizes, and more independence in textbook selection and course design. Several issues to consider in one’s career are not viewed universally as positive or negative. These issues indude contact with students outside of the classroom, advising, committee assignments, and participation in college life. This presenter will also draw on his experience in three different institutions to discuss those issues from the perspective of a non-traditional academic career. Finally, this presenter will provide insight on how to enhance one’s prospects for finding satisfactory employment if one does not have the traditional record of publishing a related “body of work.” Presenter Two The second presenter’s career began non- traditionally, when she began a PhD. program at 30, balancing consulting and doctoral work, marriage, an administrative job, a 1,000-mile move, a teaching job and a baby before finishing her degree at 40. Because of family demands (being in the “sandwich generation,” she also cared for ill parents and toddlers while working full time), she never wrote or published anything from her dissertation. Developments In Business Simulation & Experiential Learning, Volume 24, 1997 308 When the second child was 6-months old, she switched jobs after five years as an unpublished Assistant Professor in a midwestern business school. The move to a private New England university that stressed good teaching and faculty contact with students seemed perfect. However, publications were expected and rewarded, but there had been no publishing tradition and few published faculty to guide junior faculty. So her record of not publishing continued; several conference presentations were expanded into articles, but submissions were rejected. Finally, one article was accepted at a teaching journal (lower status in the written evaluation guidelines). Since the move in 1985, she has focused her energy on teaching, service to the university on task forces and commissions, innovative pedagogy, and conferences and professional associations focused on teaching (e.g. ABSEL, OBTC). The university reluctantly granted her tenure in 1993 with no promotion and an admonition from the President to publish! This presenter chooses to stay in academia as a deviant doing only research she cares about deeply, a minimum of administrative work, a lot of service, excellent teaching and, unless promotion requirements change, she never intends to apply for promotion. Presenter Three The third presenter has combined the traditional path of college--graduate school-- first job--publishing--administration with marriage and (small) family. Her balance comes from her choice of research foci, her administrative jobs and her international visits. Based in Turkey, this presenter has taken short and medium-length visiting positions in a variety of countries and often chooses to collaborate on multi-national research. At her home school, she serves as department chair, which allows her some flexibility not enjoyed by junior faculty. She will share her personal success criteria, some of her applied research topics and her conclusions about the benefits of doing administration. Table of Contents Volume 24, 1997 Incorporating Computer Telephony into the MIS Course A Learner Oriented Infrastructure for videoconferencing Based Distance Education Courses The Identification of Temporally Related Structural Elements of the Experiential Component of Electronic Spreadsheet Tasks Does Involvement Influence Learning from Simulation Participation? Some Relationships with Helpfulness and Performance Outcomes Musings on Business Garne Performance Evaluation Performance on a TE Simulation: What does it represent? The Business Policy Game: An International Simulation - An Assessment Tool Students in Free Enterprise as Experiential Learning The Role of Computer Models in Wargames: A Practitioner's view Using Focus Groups as a Tool to Research Learning: A Demonstration and a Discussion Using Medical Simulations to Teach Multi-Cultural Diversity Using the World Game to Internationalize International Exchange Game Community Services Needs Assessment: An Innovative Approach Introducing Students to Potential Total Quality Management Ethical Dilemmas Privacy in the Workplace: A Situational Analysis Antecedents of Learning in Simulations Demonstrating the Learning Effectiveness of Simulation: Where we are and Where we need to go The Use of Computer Simulations as a Pedagogical Aid in Teaching Management Information Systems Evaluating Simulation Learning in a Distant Learning Instructional Model Financial Engineering of Global Investments The Labor History Game: Playing with the Past Perks Participation Assessing Negotiator's Proficiency with a Negotiation role-play The Art of Negotiating Enhancing Learning and Employee Development through the Assessment of Learning Pedagogy Preferences across selected Dimensions of Culture: A Preliminary Investigation Cooperative Learning: What are we Learning? Effective Use of Mastery Based Experiential learning in a Project Course to improve skills in system analysis and Design Simulations and Learning: Can we prove a relationship? (Seminar) Predicting and Reviewing NYSE Stock Prices by use of Basic Statistical Analysis and Logic Toy Car Depreciation Exercise ABSEL as Home Community: An Interactive Exploration Service Learning: Linking Academic Study to Community Development and Business Enhancement Ability of Efficient Evaluation of Knowledge-Based Management Strategies Corporate Ethics Training Programs Modeling Attributes in Demand Functions of Computerized Business Simulations: An Extension of Teach's Gravity Flow Algorithm Expert Systems Combined with Neutral Networks: Tools to Benefit the Marketing Researcher Computer Game Design: New Directions for Intercultural Simulation Game Designers Consistency in Simulation Performance over Time and Across Simulation Games The Impact of an Artificial Market Leader on Simulation Competitor's Strategies Business Plans, Case Studies, and Total Enterprise Simulations: A Natural Co-existence An Exploration into the Non-Use of Business Simulations The Market Game: Interactive Learning Through Market Simulation Plotting Brand Trajectories with the COMPLETE PPM package: A Market Segmentation Analysis and Positioning Tool Me and Mine Inc: An Exercise in Management Theory Learning to Differentiate Leadership from Managerial Position Business Ethics Survey: A Perspective from the Retail Industry Experiential Learning in Demand Analysis for an Agricultural Commodity Marketing on the Internet: A Pedagogical Exercise College Students Need Simple Computer Simulations, Especially for International Business Courses An Analysis of Student Attitudes, Performance, and Strategies in a Simulation Competition Based on a Controlled Product-Market-Entry Game Structure The Crystal Enterprise: Application of a Non-Computerized Simulation Model in a Process of Organizational Change Threshold: A Windows-Based Behaviorally Oriented Total Enterprise Simulation Coaching Business Game Teams Using a Decision Variable Optimizer Rock and Roll is here to Stay: Enhancing Experiential Pedagogy with Musical Exercises An Example of Business Process Analysis Simulation for Customer Software Support The Use of Business Gaming in Hong Kong Academic Institutions Using the Integrative International Simulation INTOPIA Mark 2000 in a Concentrated MBA Curriculum A Group Experience as an Integrated Part of the Core Management Course Empowered Learning in the Classroom The Inter-Group Interaction: An Innovative Approach to Cooperative Learning Courses that Utilize Student Team: An Approach to enhancing their Effectiveness Thoughts about the Measurement of Learning: The Case for Guided Learning and Associated Measurement Issues Measuring Student Learning Using Business Simulations: A Theory Based Perspective On the Use of PC Fingame in an Undergraduate Finance Course How Managers get Things Done: A Virtual Soundbite Internet Experiential learning in the Principals of Marketing Classroom: A Pedagogical Approach Current Student Perceptions Relative to Business Simulations Beyond Capitalism: Designing Business Policy and Social Justice The Use of Boards of Directors to Evaluate Reports and Presentations in an Undergraduate Business Policy Course Beacon Lumber: An Experiential Introduction to Financial Accounting The Application of Organizational Motivation Principles: The Experiential Business Simulation Motus Manufacturing Avoiding a Bogey: Grading Case Discussions Scientifically Communicating Consumer Behavior II: A Modified Exercise Using Personal Consumption Journals in Condensed Courses Designing Instruments for Assessing the Effectiveness of Simulations, (Seminar) 360º Performance Feedback: Appraisal vs. Assessment The Cafeteria Approach to Managing an Academic Career: Remaining Non-Perishable while Doing Your Own Thing An Experiential Exercise Related to Person-Organization Fit and it's Consequences For Today's Dynamic and Changing World, Business Simulations need to be expanded to encompass Much Greater Complexity: A Demonstration The Incident Process: A Case in Reverse Contextually-Anchored Business Simulations The Energy Factor: Building Motivation in the Simulation Gaming Environment The Design of an Internet Game