Assessing Leadership Performance in University-Based Cooperative Research Centers: Evidence from Four Studies

Abstract

This chapter describes a program of research investigating leadership in the context of university-based cooperative research centers (URCs). S. Bartholomew Craig, Clara E. Hess, Jennifer Lindberg McGinnis, and Denis O. Gray report the results of four studies. Study 1 used content analysis of qualitative interview data to identify 15 categories of center director performance. Study 2 used the categories identified in Study 1 to create a standardized multisource (360°) leadership performance assessment instrument, which was subsequently refined to measure ten dimensions of directors’ leadership performance. Study 3 applied cluster analysis to scores from the new instrument to identify four distinct “types” of center directors, based on their patterns of leadership performance. Study 4 investigated the relations between center directors’ leadership performance and their personality scores as assessed with the Five Factor Model of personality. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for knowledge of leadership processes within URCs, selection and development of center directors, and for future research efforts. For complementary examinations, see the chapters by Rivers and Gray and by Davis and colleagues on center leaders’ industry member marketing practices and relations with university administrators, respectively.

Appendix: 360° Assessment of URC Leader Performance

$$\text{Rate}\,\text{items}\,\text{on}\,\text{scale}\,\text{from}\,-3\text\,{to}+3,$$

where −3  =  Too Little of This, 0  =  Perfect, and +3  =  Too Much of This.

Technical expertise

• 1. Demonstrates personal knowledge of technical areas related to the Center’s work

• 2. Uses his or her personal technical expertise in Center projects

• 3. Monitors new developments in technical areas related to the Center’s work

• 4. Engages in professional development or continuing education activities to increase his or her personal technical expertise in areas related to the Center’s work

Broad thinking

• 5. Creates a compelling vision for guiding future work in the Center

• 6. Invests time and energy in long-term planning

• 7. Focuses on the long-term goals of the Center

• 8. Attends conferences, colloquia, and other meetings that are relevant to the Center’s work

Personal energy and ambition

• 9. Sets high goals—attempts to get a lot accomplished

• 10. Maintains a high personal energy level

• 11. Juggles multiple tasks simultaneously (multitasks)

• 12. Performs a wide variety of functions

Delivering results

• 13. Builds a productive research enterprise in the Center

• 14. Knows whom to contact in the university to get things done

• 15. Knows whom to contact in sponsoring or partner organizations to get things done

• 16. Meets procedural deadlines

Attention to detail

• 17. Attends to the details

• 18. Spends time performing the tasks of an administrator

• 19. Organized

• 20. Follows through—delivers

Dealing with ambiguity

• 21. Initiates structure in vague or ambiguous situations

• 22. Lets others know what he or she is thinking

• 23. Adapts to changing requirements of the Center Director role

• 24. Creates systems and procedures for getting the work done

Fostering creativity and innovation

• 25. Encourages “out-of-the-box” thinking—in self and others

• 26. Encourages brainstorming sessions

• 27. Builds new work upon what has come before

• 28. Willing to take risks with new ideas

Spanning boundaries

• 29. Leverages professional relationships to benefit the Center’s work

• 30. Incorporates input from stakeholders external to the Center

• 31. Interacts with external Center constituents

• 32. Pays attention to events in the external environment that might impact the Center’s work

Interpersonal skill

• 33. Sensitive to others’ feelings

• 34. Puts others at ease

• 35. Patient when dealing with other people

• 36. Allows others to speak

Ethics and fairness

• 37. Operates in accordance with Center rules and funding requirements

• 38. Distributes funding and other resources for Center projects in a fair manner

• 39. Gives credit to others for their ideas

• 40. Is honest