REPLY Separate Professional Conference (SD6298)

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Posted by  "Keith Linard" <klin4960 at bigpond.net.au>

I believe the best 'professional conference' is one where there is a good
mix of academia (with a strong focus on pushing the theoretical boundaries,
whilst protecting the foundations), business AND Government (with a focus on
application from both user and practitioner perspective, whilst protecting
"best practice")

Innovation and theory are not the unique preserve of academia ... There are
innumerable examples around the world of private sector and (non university)
public sector applied research facilities which are pushing the theoretical
boundaries.  At the same time, most university business schools are
extremely active in consulting ... rather than being 'Ivory Towers', the
greater danger is that their business activities can overshadow the
academic.

If the argument is that we should relax the standard of papers accepted (on
the presumption that academic papers have a higher standard and therefore
dominate), as a reviewer over the past 5 years I have recommended the
rejection or rewriting of more academic submissions ... on technical
professional grounds ... that those from applied practitioners.

When I was hired as a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales,
arguably Australia's most prestigious --- at least in the management
field --- my 'riding orders' from the head of faculty was to 'do on average
1 to 2 days private consulting a week to bring academic theory and
discipline to today's business problems'.  I suggest the best system
dynamics academics are those who have a similar mentality.


Keith Linard
134 Gisborne Road
Bacchus Marsh
Vic 3340
Posted by  "Keith Linard" <klin4960 at bigpond.net.au>
posting date  Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:35:24 +1100