STEAM DRIVE: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Management – Motivation in Academia
Positive Management of Technical Universities: A New Model of Work Motivation. Grant no. UMO-2017/27/B/HS4/01033 funded by the National Science CentreA0 (2018-2021)
EVENTS
Paper: Szuflita-AFurawska, M., & Basinska, B. A. (2021). VisegrE1d countries? scientific productivity in the European context: a 10-year perspective using Web of Science and Scopus. Learned Publishing. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1370
Abstract. Measuring the growth of research productivity is a core element of performance in the higher education sector. This paper aims to analyse the scientific productivity of the VisegrE1d Group countries (2010-2019) based on data from the WoS and Scopus databases as well as data from secondary sources (demographic and socio-economic factors). Quantitatively, although Poland has the highest output, this is due to its comparative size, whereas output per researcher in Poland is lower than in other V4 countries. As regards the qualitative approach, Hungary and the Czech Republic are significantly more effective in terms of scientific collaboration and receive a greater number of European Research Council grants. Thus, bibliometric data in relation to cross-country characteristic indicators (socio-economic variables including expenditure on science and having prestigious universities) are related to the positions of the V4 countries. Practical implications suggest that university management within the VisegrE1d Group must develop and continue strategies to strengthen international collaboration between researchers in order to accelerate change in the dissemination of scientific output at the global level. Academic scholarly publishers may benefit from publishing research on specific issues important to different regions of the world in order to expand their audience and gain new potential resources.
Paper:A0Basinska, B.A. (2020). Work motivation profiles and work performance in a group of corporate employees: AA0two-step cluster analysis. Roczniki Psychologiczne/Annals of Psychology,A023(3), 227-245 https://doi.org/10.18290/rpsych20233-3
Paper:A0Szuflita-Zurawska M., Basinska B.A., Leja K. (2020). Barriers to and facilitators of scientific productivity: A case study from Polish technical university. Proceedings of the 36th IBIMA Conference: Education Excellence and Innovation Management: A 2025 Vision to Sustain Economic Development during Global Challenges, Granada, Spain, November 2020.
Abstract. Scientific productivity plays an essential role in the creation of innovation and it stimulates social and economic growth. This study aimed to identify the barriers to and facilitators of scientific productivity in engineering and technology field, as perceived from the perspective of academic managers. Along with quality approach, the study relied on semi-structured interviews with managing bodies, i.e. seven deans and deputy deans from four faculties representing scientific field of engineering and technology. A single case study of Polish technical university was analysed in accordance with Braun and Clark?s six-step framework and coded in NVivo software. Findings fell into four themes: scientific publication, recognition, funding research, and collaboration. The results revealed more barriers than facilitators in terms of acceleration of and motivation for research productivity. Most of them related to human, financial, organisational, structural resources, and organizational culture. The novelty of our study lies in the insights into the middle management of universities in the scientific field of engineering and technology in light of the Positive Organisational Scholarship framework.
Paper:A0BasiF1ska, B., Leja, K., & Szuflita-AFurawska, M. (2019). Positive Management of Universities: A Model of Motivation to Strive for Scientific Excellence.A0Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review,A07, 239-251.
Oral presentation: Szuflita-AFurawska M., & BasiF1ska B. Motivate to enhance scientific effectiveness: a qualitative study among authorities at the technical university. Oral paper at the 19th European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology Congress (EAWOP). 29th May ? 1st June 2019, Turin, Italy.
Oral presentation: Szuflita-AFurawska M., & BasiF1ska B. Polska nauka na tle Europy: produktywnoB6E6 naukowa i praktyki publikacyjne w wybranych dyscyplinach naukowych w latach 2015-2017. Prezentacja, VI OgF3lnopolska Konferencja Badaczy Szkolnictwa WyBFszego, Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, 25-26.10.2018, PoznaF1, Polska
Oral presentation: Beata BasiF1ska, Krzysztof Leja, Magdalena Szuflita-AFurawska (2018). Positive management of universities: A new model of motivation. InternationalA0Conference ?Management and governance of the university of the future? 21 October 2018, Jagiellonian University, Cracow,A0Poland
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The aim of the project is to examine of a new motivation model in the management of technical universities. The motivation of academic scholars may act as a mediator between institutional resources (adequate and fair remuneration, style of leadership) and scientific effectiveness (scientific productivity, organizational citizenship behaviours and work engagement). The theoretical framework for the problem is a link between the management of organization paradigm including strategic paradoxes (synergy of antinomies; Leja, 2013) and the Positive Organizational Scholarship (Cameron & Spreitzer, 2011). The changes that have taken place in university education after 2011 aim at increasing the significance of Polish science. Therefore, we are convinced that universities need a new model of academic scholars? motivation to work ? a model allowing them to achieve greater effectiveness and competitiveness in the international area.
Why are we doing this?
What we already know about motivation to work in science is insufficient. Being an effective scientist manifests itself in publishing articles, managing grants and internationalization of scientific research. Most of existing research concentrates on institutional determinants, which are poorly supplemented with individual factors. Their serious limitation is the failure to take into account the diversity of motives to work and the needs satisfied by that work. Consequently, according to the assumptions of the self-determination theory in the context of work (Deci, Olafsen, & Ryan, 2017; Pink, 2009), the new motivation model consists of three motivation types: autonomous motivation (e.g., intrinsic motivation), controlled motivation (e.g., external and financial motivation) and lack of motivation (which means that professional goals are not achieved). Moreover, motivations are related to three basic needs, i.e. need of A0autonomy (independence at work), need of mastery (to become more and more competent) and need of maximization of the purpose (meaningfulness of work). Therefore, we will verify the relationships between motives and needs in connection with scientific effectiveness. In addition, we will investigate how adequate remuneration and involved leadership shape the academic scholars? motivation, thus influencing scientific effectiveness.
How are we going to do this?
We shall implement mixed methods research. We shall carry out qualitative research ? thorough interviews with representatives of technical university authorities. We will also conduct quantitative research among the academic scholars employed in technical universities. We want to invite academic scholars from different scientific fields: engineering and technology (e.g. civil engineering), natural science (e.g. physics) and social (e.g. economy and business). We will carry out our statistical analyses on several levels in order to present the scholars? perspective and take into account the scientific field perspective.
What do we want to achieve?
First, we want to describe and verify the new model of academic scholars? motivation in the context of technical university management. Second, we want to integrate the results from the institutional level and the scholars? level. Third, we want to check the diversification of motivation depending on the scientific fields. The scientific problem we have touched upon, that is, the new motivation model in university management, will broaden the knowledge of management science in the field of research on universities.