1.0 Introduction
Message from the Vice-Dean (Research)
THE RESEARCH-LEADERSHIP NEXUS
A great variety of research accomplishments stood out this year, united by a common thread: our ability to learn from, nurture, develop, and connect with leadership. Getting close to management decision-making and public policy arenas fosters a rich learning environment for our research graduate students. Their encounter with research for tackling real-world problems, through internships, contact with faculty, and thesis work, is central to preparing them for the next stage in their careers. Whether in academia, industry or the public sector, the need for decisions to be supported by empirical evidence has created a surge in demand for research-savvy workers. Our focus on leadership connection therefore continues to guide us in developing excellence in our M.Sc. in Management and M.Sc. in Health Systems Programs.
Links to leadership also ensure a stronger research base and deeper impact for our discoveries. We saw this synergy present in fields such as analytics & performance, health systems, innovation & entrepreneurship, sustainable management, human resource management, organizational behaviour, and many others. To mention one prominent example, our researchers used funding from a private industry group to investigate what caused the collapse of Nortel Networks Corp., the former Canadian tech giant that had important links in the Ottawa region. Professors at the Telfer School and other faculties tapped into the experiences of senior firm leaders for their analysis, which attracted national and international coverage this year. Another great example was the team from the Telfer School and the University of Ottawa Faculty of Engineering professors that embarked on six innovative research projects designed to enhance efficiency and performance in health systems, supported by a grant from Mitacs-IBM Canada. In these examples and many others, the ability to successfully bridge university and practice settings broadens the impact of our research.
Excellence in collaboration, grounded in the current realities of management, was also very much in evidence in the knowledge exchanges we undertook this year. A unique partnership initiative began with the German research organization Fraunhofer ISI, focusing on science and innovation policy challenges facing Canada and Germany today. In addition, we hosted more than 25 presentations by leading experts from academia and industry within our research seminar series. Both faculty and students benefitted from these opportunities to engage in discussion and form research connections with business and public sector audiences.
Cutting-edge research has the power to influence and transform thinking, knowledge and business practices. The future at Telfer is very bright indeed, as we continue to strengthen the nexus between research and leadership.