|
Minutes
Executive Committee Meeting
Business Policy & Strategy Division
February 7, 1998
Steinberg Conference Center, Wharton
Philadelphia, PA
Present: Michael Lubatkin, Harbir Singh, Ed Zajac, Diana Day, Ming-Jer Chen, Bruce Lamont, Bert Cannella, Bob Hoskisson, Rikard Larsson, Margie Peteraf, Phil Bromiley, Connie Helfat, Julia Liebeskind, Rhonda Reger. (Rob Grant, Peter Lane, and Gerry Johnson were absent.) The meeting began after lunch at 1:30 pm and ended at 6:15 pm.
- Reports
- Opening Remarks—Harbir Singh welcomed those Executive Committee members in attendance and provided an overview of the meeting’s agenda. Harbir mentioned that Peter Lane was unable to attend due to his father being seriously ill.
- Approval of Minutes from August EC Meeting—Bruce Lamont distributed the attached copy of the minutes from the August 10, 1997 meeting. The minutes were approved.
- 1998 Program Update—Diana Day distributed a copy of her report to the EC. It is attached. As a preface, Diana thanked and wished to recognize the exceptional efforts and contributions of several colleagues with this year’s program: Rakesh Sambraya (Rugers), Rhonda Reger (Maryland), Briance Mascarenhas (Rutgers), Anne Ilinitch (UNC), Russ Coff (Washington), and Joyce Falkenberg (Norweigan Business School).
Diana reported the division received a record number of submissions for this year’s program: 340 (to as many as 360) papers and 40 symposia. Diana also reviewed the process used in managing, selecting, and notifying program participants in detail (see attachment). There was extensive discussion of the flaws with the current system, particularly with the reviewer database and the use of email for tracking submissions, along with ways to improve things in the future. Diana mentioned that she was in the process of updating the reviewer database to make it more useful and is preparing a packet of documents and tips to pass along to Ming-Jer Chen to hopefully alleviate some of this year’s problems in the future.
Diana then briefly outlined the Showcase and All-Academy Symposia on the program (noted on attachment) and spoke about the tentative acceptance guidelines for the submissions. The overall acceptance rate should be around 50% (approximately 30% BPS paper sessions, 10% poster sessions, and 10% joint and All-Academy sessions), bolstering member participation. Michael Lubatkin, Harbir Singh, and the balance of the EC congratulated Diana on doing a wonderful job with this year’s record volume of submissions.
On a related matter, but off the agenda, Rhonda Reger brought up the value of continuing this year’s innovation of Special Topic Sessions in future years. After an extensive discussion, the creation of a subcommittee was proposed with the charge of more systematically assessing the value and process to be used for Special Topic Sessions in the future. It was also proposed that the use of Special Topic Sessions be discontinued until after more systematic reports are received from such a subcommittee. The proposal was approved by the EC. The following were appointed to the subcommittee: Connie Helfat (Chair), Margie Peteraf, and Bert Cannella.
- Pre-convention Activities—Ming-Jer Chen distributed a tentative outline of this year’s Pre-conference program (a copy is attached). Ming-Jer briefly discussed each of the ten scheduled sessions, the organizers, and the participants. He also highlighted the timely sessions on the New Role of Hong Kong in the Emerging China Economy (co-sponsored with OMT & INT) and Strategies in Emerging Economies, along with a new session on theory building (co-sponsored with OMT & INT) organized by Rhonda Reger and Gerry Johnson. Harbir congratulated and thanked Ming-Jer on his hard work and innovations with this year’s pre-conference activities.
There was then a discussion about the inclusiveness of the chairs, organizers, and panelists in the pre-conference program. Rhonda Reger suggested that current members of the EC, Teaching and Research committees be excluded. There was general agreement among the EC on this point, but no requirement for future pre-conference programs was proposed or passed.
Referencing an earlier discussion on improving the process of handling regular program submissions, but out-of-sequence for the agenda, Diana Day brought up the issue of expanding the role of the Assistant Program Chair beyond the primary focus of handling pre-conference activities. Diana suggested that the Assistant Program Chair work more closely with the Program Chair at the reviewer assignment and paper acceptance times as there are large tacit knowledge components to these activities. Diana also proposed that any costs of travel incurred by the Assistant Program Chair in doing so be funded by the BPS Division up to $2,000. After much discussion, the EC approved the proposal.
- Budget—In Peter’s absence, Habir Singh distributed a copy of the status report prepared in advance by Peter Lane. Harbir reviewed the report, noting that the Division remains in very strong financial health. A copy of the report is attached.
- Initiatives
- BPS Endowment Funds—Harbir distributed and discussed a letter he received from Susan Mohrman about the two charters submitted to the Academy for the BPS Development Fund and BPS and OMT Contribution to Management Practice endowments. A copy of her letter is attached. Harbir noted the new guidelines outlined in the letter about the administration of the endowments, the most notable being the allocations are permanent. Harbir also noted that the Academy Board had no concerns about the purposes of the BPS endowment funds and approved the funds in concept. Harbir also noted modifications would be made to our proposed endowment charters to conform to the new guidelines prior to the August meetings. The EC members mentioned that the new guidelines seemed reasonable and agreed with their incorporation in the endowments charters. Michael Lubatkin noted that there should be prudent spending of these endowment funds, as well as the Division’s surplus balances. All agreed.
(Harbir then jumped ahead on the agenda to Nominations for Elected Positions and appointments of various committee members to ensure sufficient time for an open process. After the Nominations and appointments, noted here as the next item below, were concluded, Harbir returned discussions to the following initiatives.)
- OMT/BPS Joint Initiatives—Harbir Singh briefly summarized the various interconnections between BPS and OMT noting that all are well underway and going well.
- Robert Litschert Award—Harbir mentioned that the award has been endowed and will start with the 1998 program. The award is for the best doctoral student paper from a dissertation and is distinct from the Free Press Award for the best doctoral dissertation. Diana Day confirmed that the award will be made this year.
- International Outreach Program—Rikard/Larsson presented an update on the international outreach initiative. He mentioned that he is developing a proposal for the next EC meeting in August. Michael Lubatkin mentioned that both he and Rikard would continue their work on the Division’s outreach effort through the program’s implementation.
- Other—Rhonda Reger brought up the new Academy-wide Mentoring Program, outlined the premises of the program, and questioned how BPS might contribute. There was some discussion about how BPS Fellows might play a role. Ed Zajac also suggested that the BPS Fellows may be a useful vehicle to better connect BPS with SMS. After discussion of both the mentoring and BPS/SMS connections, Ed and Michael Lubatkin volunteered to pursue BPS/SMS linkages. Harbir suggested that the EC revisit the mentoring issue at the next meeting.
Michael Lubatkin then reported that the Teaching Committee had made limited progress on their approved plan. Michael noted that he’d pursue further.
- Nominations and Appointments
- Nominations for elected positions—Bruce Lamont distributed a list of candidates for the elected and appointed positions prepared in advance based on input from EC members. Michael Lubatkin solicited additional nominations from EC members for the elected positions of Assistant Program Chair and 5 EC members, in turn. After discussion, candidates and alternates were selected by the EC for inclusion on the ballot to be distributed to the BPS membership in May.
- Appointment—Michael Lubatkin solicited additional candidates for consideration for the Division’s Research and Teaching Committees. After much discussion of the candidates, Sylvia Black and Dawn Harris were appointed to the Teaching Committee for 1998-00 and Mary Tripsas, Anita McGahan, Jim Westphal, Rick Makadok, Gautam Ahuja, and Aks Zaheer were appointed to the Research Committee for 98-00. Michael Lubatkin said that he would notify the candidates for election and the appointees.
Suitable candidates for regional liaisons were then discussed and prioritized. Bruce Lamont said that he would notify the appointees.
Bruce Lamont mentioned the great jobs being done by Steve Phelan as BPS Webmaster and Bob Stephens and Pablo Martin de Holan as Netmasters and asked the EC to officially appoint them in their assumed roles. The EC approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce T. Lamont
Attachments
|
