PROFESSORIAL BANDING
DISCIPLINARY NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS
Department/School: School of Management
Discipline (only if different to the above):
Entrepreneurship
Faculty: Management and Economics
I confirm that the discipline norms detailed below were completed following consultation with Professors in the
department, and have been verified by an external advisor.
Completed by: Jeffrey Unerman
Date: 12/8/14
RESEARCH
1.
What are the top-rated forms of research work in your discipline? E.g. journal articles, monographs,
editions
Journal papers are regarded as the most significant means of research output across research on Entrepreneurship
and SMEs. Research monographs are unlikely to be important. Contributions to Handbooks from prestigious
publishers with highly regarded editors are considered important. Chapters in edited books are viewed
unfavourably because if the material is indeed pioneering then it should be published in several articles in the top
journals in the field. Editing books and journal special issues are viewed favourably.
2.
What lesser publications such as encyclopaedia entries, programme notes, reviews etc. command
respect in your discipline?
Contributions to Handbooks from prestigious publishers with highly regarded editors which are considered subject
defining.
3.
What are the top-rated outlets for dissemination of research in your discipline? E.g. major publishers, top
journals?
Journal of Business Venturing, and Entrepreneurship, Theory and Practice are the top two journals but these are very
much centred upon American data and are extremely difficult. (i) Journal of Small Business Management (JSBM), (ii)
Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal (SEJ), (iii) Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, (iv) Small Business
Economics, and (v) International Small Business Journal are all very good quality journals.
Some lower ranking entrepreneurship journals have taken a lead on publishing particular topics within
entrepreneurship and small businesses, which have been widely cited. For example, International Journal of
Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research has championed entrepreneurial learning research, which has gained
prominence in entrepreneurship.
4.
What are the guiding assumptions about sole authorship, PI status, percentage contribution, joint
editorship, etc.?
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It is increasingly normal practice for papers to be jointly authored.
5.
What is the volume of productivity over what sort of timeline that might signify a.) a reasonable
performance; b) a positive step-change for a professor in your discipline?
One article per year in a high quality journal or one article in a leading international journal every three to four years
supplemented by other publications would be considered as good performance.
6.
What are the top-rated funding sources for Research in your discipline? E.g. ESRC, AHRC, Leverhulme
Trust, Wellcome etc.
The ESRC and EU are the main sources for large grants. Smaller grants from the Leverhulme Trust, Nuffield and the
British Academy are also well regarded.
7.
What levels of funding would you regard as indicating a) a reasonable performance; or b) high
performance in your discipline?
Grants are not essential to Entrepreneurship and SME research. The emphasis is upon the quality of journal paper
publications and supervising doctoral students. There are excellent quality data sets available at zero cost. Papers
may also be written in conjunction with doctoral students using the data gathered with them. Data can also be
gathered through consultancy contacts; or access to large data sets through contacts or based on reputation.
8.
Are invited lectures/ conference plenaries/ conference organization/ visiting professorships/ particularly
significant in your discipline, and in what sort of ranked order?
Invited lectures and plenary talks at major conferences and/or scholarly workshops are all marks of eminence.
Visiting professorships are also positive indicators of esteem. But contributions to the main home university may be
diluted if someone has too many visiting professorships or spends too much time away. Being asked to provide
advice to governments or international organizations is also a good indicator of influence and is highly regarded in
the discipline of Entrepreneurship and SME research.
9.
What awards, prizes and honours if any, are significant in your discipline?
There are very few awards available in entrepreneurship and small business research. Citations are a better
indicator of ability to shape and influence the research in the discipline.
10.
Membership of which learned societies or other discipline-specific groups or organizations carry weight in
your discipline?
This does not carry much weight in the discipline.
TEACHING
1.
How many PhD students (in FTEs) would you expect to be supervised by Professors in your discipline?
The range in research-intensive universities would be between one and three PhD students per professor at any one
time.
2.
What are the norms for contribution by Professors to Masters courses and their validation in your
discipline?
This is where much of the teaching contribution by professors is found. There is a high demand for Business and
Management PGT courses and professors in all disciplines contribute to MBA, MSc and/or specialist Masters
programmes. Teaching large numbers of PGT students is considered normal in each discipline of management.
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Leadership in teaching at the PGT level can be demonstrated through successful innovation in curriculum design (at
the course and/or programme level); use of innovative and engaging teaching methods; and development and
effective implementation of high quality assessment and feedback mechanisms/practices.
3.
What are the norms for Professors devising and teaching undergraduate courses in your discipline?
This is also where much of the teaching contribution by professors is found. There is a high demand for Business
and Management undergraduate courses and professors in all disciplines contribute to teaching and curriculum
development at the undergraduate level. Teaching large numbers of undergraduate students is considered normal
in each discipline of management.
Leadership in teaching at the undergraduate level can be demonstrated through successful innovation in curriculum
design (at the course and/or programme level); use of innovative and engaging teaching methods; and
development and effective implementation of high quality assessment and feedback mechanisms/practices.
EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT AND IMPACT
1.
What are the norms for external involvement in your discipline within University of London, UK
universities, international HE activity etc. that indicate a) a reasonable performance; b) a high
performance?
This is a personal matter but engagement would usually include, external examination on UG and PG programmes,
PhD examining within the UoL and beyond. Providing advice to governments and international organizations is also
a personal matter but again indicates impact upon the wider community.
2.
What particular forms of external academic, and where relevant non-academic, impact would indicate an
acceptable and high performance in your discipline?
Citations are becoming important, especially papers that continue to receive citations. In Entrepreneurship,
indicators of non-academic impact would include participation in policy advisory panels and use of research
publications/case materials in MBA/Management development programmes. In addition non-academic impact is
often evidenced by public reference to research in press and other media.
Impact can also be in terms of research collaborations with individual, or networks of, business organizations,
and/or professional bodies where academic research-informed input influences the direction of the
group/organization’s policy and strategy and their input to formation of public policy.
3.
What kind and volume of Third Stream activity (including patents, spin-outs, outreach, knowledge
transfer, consultancies, cultural interventions etc.) of benefit to the College etc. would be important in
your discipline?
Consultancy activities are common in Entrepreneurship, but it is hard to have low-level consultancy research
disseminated in academic journals. Consultancy research at a high level for a government, international
organization, or large blue chip company is conducive to gaining access to good quality data which can be
disseminated in high quality journal articles. Knowledge transfer activities through policy advisory work and
practitioner engagement events are increasingly important.
LEADERSHIP AND ENHANCEMENT
1.
What forms of leadership, internal and external, command respect in your discipline?
In Entrepreneurship professors gaining intellectual leadership through the quality of research is most important.
Journal editorship and membership of editorial boards of top-ranked journals is highly regarded. Active
involvement in major conferences through organisation of thematic sessions and specialist workshops is also highly
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valued. External private consultancy for governments, international organizations and blue chip companies is a
mark of prestige, and also a way of generating impact in the wider arena.
2.
What forms of enhancement, such as support of improved performance by colleagues, command respect
in your discipline?
Research and teaching development, mentoring and development of younger colleagues and junior researchers,
especially PhD students are essential role for professors. This can be both within the employer institution and more
broadly through activities such as faculty on emerging scholar or doctoral colloquia and conferences.
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