Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity in Academia

It is up to all of us to make academia a better place. As we take on roles as members of tenure committees, doctoral committees, editorial boards, department chairs, and deans, we have a choice to focus on the quality rather than the quantity of academic ideas. I believe that most academics are intrinsically motivated and do not require additional incentives. Therefore, academic institutions should focus on trusting their faculty, providing training, and offering resources, rather than measuring their performance. For example, at Copenhagen Business School, applicants can upload a few selected publications for evaluation. This approach allows assessment committee members to concentrate on the quality of the submitted work by thoroughly reviewing it, rather than merely counting the number of publications. Similarly, the Journal of Supply Chain Management has implemented initiatives to enhance the skills of authors and reviewers. These include paper development workshops and a unique reviewer development program aimed at providing better training and support.