Competence in One Field May Not Mean Competence in Another

Academics is one of the few professional fields where competence at scholarship or (for schools of the health professions) clinical practice is taken as a primary qualification for managerial roles. What is commonplace in the university or independent school is rare in industry. While there are notable exceptions (e.g., Gordon Bethune is a former pilot who became a legendary CEO of Continental Airlines), the more typical career path in industry is one where management is its own specialty.

There are no doubt advantages to having practitioners become managers, but the implicit assumption that competence at teaching or doctoring or researching equals competence at management is suspect. In fact, such proclivities may be negatively correlated in the general population. Our files are full of case material to support this thesis. Maybe the smarter hire is one who can manage and be sensitive to practice--and that won't always be a practitioner.