A Systematic Evaluation of publications for Promotion of MIS academics

This article examines the role of publications as evidence for university promotion and postulates reasons why the academic "publish or perish" rule applies. A systematic approach to evaluation of an academic's publication portfolio is described. The approach uses a four-step process for evaluating each publication: 1. Ranking of journal where article appeared or classification of book 2. Ranking of quality/impact 3. Evaluating effect of coauthors 4. Evaluating effect of multiple publication of same basic material Following the individual item eva-luation, there is an overall evaluation of the publication portfolio for mix of articles and for rate of output. A method is suggested for applying this procedure in evaluating one's own portfolio and developing a personal publication strategy for promotion. INTRODUCTION WHY THE "PUBLISH OR PERISH" RULE APPLIES Senior professors in MIS typically The underlying criterion for promotion receive several requests each year from is whether or not (based on evidence to other universities to evaluate the date) the person is exescted to be publication record of-MIS academics who productive in those-/c€Tvitfes-€hat help are being considered for promotion. to achieve the goals and objectives of the Although I have done this many times, I am university department making the promotion not comfortable with the task, not only decision. because I do not like to make judgments The evidence for promotion is often affecting the future of my colleagues, but stated as a performance in the three also because the objectives and criteria activities of teaching, service, dnd for the evaluation are not clear. In this research. In practice, the publication paper I describe the results of some record of the individual is often used as thinking to clarify objectives and to the only real measure of performance. formulate a more systematic approach to Very few academics are promoted for evaluating publication records for outstanding classroom teaching, excellent promotion purposes. A systematic method service, or research activities (not with clear criteria may not produce better resulting in publications) and only a few results than a fuzzy one, but it is easier are not promoted or terminated for poor to explain why the evaluation turned out teaching, poor service record, or absence the way it did. Also, the trend to legal of research activity. challenges of promotion processes may make it necessary to have a well-defined Publications are sometimes equated process· The evaluation method is general with research, but, in fact, publications and can be applied outside of the MIS can be related to teaching or service as well as research. The relationship of area; the emphasis in this paper is on publications to the three areas of its application to MIS academics. activity are: