Minutes of the Council Meeting

of the

International Federation of Scholarly Associations of Management (IFSAM),

held at Helsinki, August 20^th 1999.

1. Welcome to Members, Introductions and Apologies:

Also in attendance Professor Greg Bamber (Australia) for the IFSAM 2002 Conference Report

President André Petit opened the meeting at 10.05am and welcomed Council Members verbally and electronically by displaying the new format IFSAM web page that had recently been redeveloped by Tony Schellinck and his team at Dalhousie University. Professor Petit thanked Council Members for their attendance and thanked Hanken (Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration) for its generosity in hosting the Council meeting on its premises.

Apologies were received as per the attendance list on pages 1-2.

2. Adoption of Agenda

The proposed agenda for the meeting was discussed and it was agreed that Agenda Item 4.2 (Election of New President Elect) be considered as the first item on the Agenda (as 2.1). On this basis, it was

Moved Professor Irving, Seconded Professor Garcia-Echevarria, that

‘The agenda be accepted’. Approved.*

(* Unless otherwise noted, all votes on motions were unanimous)

2.1 Election of President Elect

Professor Garcia-Echevarria reported that, following the sad and untimely death of the, then, President-elect, Professor Carolyn Dexter, a fresh round of nominations had been called. When he had contacted each of the Council members, the almost unanimous view was that Professor Greg Bamber was the best available candidate. On this basis, it was

Moved Professor Garcia-Echevarria, Seconded Mr Lamond, that

‘Professor Greg Bamber of Australia be elected as President-elect to serve as President in the period 2001-2002.’

Professor Petit welcomed the election of Professor Bamber and said that he looked forward to working with him on the Executive during his term of office.

3. Minutes of the 1998 Council Meeting

The Minutes of the 1998 Council meeting had previously been circulated to all Council Members on March 28 1999. It was

Moved Professor Bamber, Seconded Professor Pesqueux, that

‘The Minutes of the Council Meeting of the International Federation of Scholarly Associations of Management (IFSAM), held at University of Alcalá, Alcalá De Henares, Spain, July 12^th – 13^th 1998, be received and adopted’. Approved.

4. Business Arising from the Minutes.

4.1 The Council discussed the proposals to honour our friend and colleague, Professor Carolyn Dexter, as per the note in the Council Papers. It was

Moved Professor Garcia-Echevarria, Seconded Mr Lamond, that

‘There be established as a continuing feature of IFSAM World Conferences, the Carolyn Dexter Memorial Address on International Management, the inaugural address to be presented at the 5^th World Conference in Montreal in July 2000 by Professor Anne Huff, President of the Academy of Management’ Approved.

Moved Professor Garcia-Echevarria, Seconded Mr Lamond, that

‘The Carolyn Dexter International Management Scholarship be established, with the purpose of aiding an outstanding junior management scholar to attend the IFSAM World Conference, commencing with the 5^th IFSAM Conference in Montreal. For each Conference, the National Program Chair of each country will identify to the Council the outstanding paper by a PhD student on international/comparative management. A panel of the Conference Organising Committee will review the nominations and select one paper for the award of the Scholarship, which provides for the author to present the paper at the Conference. The Conference Organisers will provide for a free registration, while the IFSAM Council will provide a grant, up to a limit of $US2,000 to assist with travel and accommodation.’ Approved.

5. Report of the Past President on the 4^th IFSAM World Congress

Professor Garcia-Echevarria advised that the conference, with a balanced budget of 24 million Spanish pesetas (for which he had submitted an audited statement to the IFSAM Treasurer, Professor Pesqueux) was very successful, both in terms of its scholarship and its promotion of IFSAM and management research and education in Spain. The conference organisers had published 180 papers plus abstracts on CD-ROM. In addition, Professor Garcia-Echevarria and Professor Albach had produced an edited edition of the keynote addresses at the conference, Globalizacíon. The conference had also received extensive media coverage, a collection of which (Dossier de Prensa) Professor Garcia-Echevarria circulated for Council members. Professor Garcia-Echevarria also noted that sponsorship income accounted for 40% of the total conference income and he was pleased to have been able to include business and government in the conference in this way. It was

Moved Professor Bamber, Seconded Professor Pesqueux, that

‘That the Report on the IVth IFSAM World Congress in Alcala de Henares be received and adopted, with thanks to Professor Garcia-Echevarria and his colleagues for in appreciation of an excellent conference.’ Approved

6. Report of the President on the upcoming Vth IFSAM World Congress in Montreal

Professor Petit presented his report through exploration of the Conference website, noting the conference would be held 8-11 July, 2000. The joint IFSAM-ASAC conference will be held at the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM) and the theme will be ‘Taking Stock’. There is an excellent range of keynote speakers. Professor Ann Langley is doing an excellent job as Program Co-ordinator.

Professor Irving, as President of ASAC, the joint organisers of the Conference, added his personal invitation and welcome to Montreal. It was

Moved Professor Ryder, Seconded Professor Hitt, that

‘The Report on the Vth IFSAM World Congress in Montreal be received and adopted.’

Approved

7. Report of the Treasurer

The Treasurer’s Report was presented, as per the report in the Council Meeting Papers, with an update of the 1999-2000 budget forecast, and discussed. In summary, to June 30, 1999 IFSAM received $US8,849 in Membership dues and has a balance of $US60,334. The income is less than projected expenditure and so IFSAM will again experience a shortfall. It was

Moved Professor Bamber, Seconded Professor Eminente, that

‘Subject to the audit of the accounts to be undertaken by M. Claude Simon, the Treasurer’s Report for the period 1 Jul 1998 to 30 June 1999 be received and adopted’ Approved

Moved Professor Hammond-Ketilson, Seconded Professor Ryder, that

‘The preliminary budget for the period 1 Jul 1999 to 30 June 2000 be received and adopted’.

Approved

8. Report of the Secretary

The Secretary’s Report was presented as per the report in the Council Meeting Papers and the addition of Professor Tony Schellinck’s report on his activities as Assistant Secretary and Director of Communications, and discussed. Other matters pertaining to the Secretary’s activities were further considered under the relevant agenda item. It was

Moved Professor Bamber, Seconded Professor Lundin, that

‘The Secretary’s Report be received and adopted, and Mr Lamond be thanked and congratulated for his efforts in this role.’ Approved

It was also

Moved Mr Lamond, Seconded Professor Bamber, that

‘Tony Schellinck be thanked for his long terms efforts as Assistant Secretary Director of Communications and in particular for his work on the redevelopment of the IFSAM web page.’

Approved

9. Report of the Organizers of the 2002 IFSAM Conference in Australia

The Report on the VIth World Congress in Australia was presented by Greg Bamber, as per the report in the Council Meeting Papers, and discussed. Professor Bamber noted the Conference would be held in conjunction with ANZAM from 9-12 July 2000 at Jupiter’s Casino on the Gold Coast, Queensland. It was

Moved Professor Pesqueux, Seconded Professor Irving, that

‘The Report on the VIth World Congress in Australia be received and adopted’ Approved

10. Report of Journal Committee

The Journal Committee Report was received as per the report in the Council Meeting Papers, and discussed. By a vote of the committee members, the Journal Committee recommended to the IFSAM Council that a partnership with Gabler-Verlag be pursued to establish a new IFSAM "journal of journals" (Alternative 2). Following discussion, it was

Moved Mr Lamond, Seconded Professor Pesqueux, that

(a) The Report of the Journal Committee be received’

(b) The concept of a 'journal of journals' be approved in principle and the proposal be referred to IFSAM’s constituent academies and associations for consideration as to how the vision of such a journal might be translated into reality, with a view to reaching a final decision at the next Council meeting in July, 2000. Such consideration should aim to clarify the financial and organisational aspects of the journal and include issues such as the selection of an editor, the process for selection of articles and so on.’ Approved

11. Research Committee

Following on from the approval of the Council Meeting of 12-13 July 1998 in Alcala de Henares for a set of research projects to be undertaken by specified Council members, the following reports were received:

Management of Universities: On behalf of Professor Albach, Chair of the sub-committee, Professor Garcia-Echevarria advised that this project was well in hand and that they had already collected a series of papers which would be published as a volume Strategic Management of European Universities. Professor Garcia-Echevarria indicated he would provide to Members copies of all the papers received so far.

Management of Arts Institutes: Professor Eminente, Chair of the sub-committee, advised that the project was progressing well, with a collection of case studies being developed to produce a case-based textbook.

It was

Moved Mr Lamond, Seconded Professor Pesqueux, that

‘The Reports of the Research sub-committees be received and progress noted, with Professors Garcia-Echevarria and Eminente to provide abstracts of work to date for inclusion in the next IFSAM newsletter.

12. Membership Committee

The Membership Committee Report was received as per the report in the Council Meeting Papers, and discussed. Professor Hitt noted that IFSAM is like a United Nations of academies of management, while Professor Petit said it is vital that the IFSAM Council maintain a close relationship with each of its member associations. In this context, Mr Lamond made a series of observations about the importance of further developing IFSAM for its members and ensuring the transparency of its decision-making:

‘As IFSAM reaches toward a decade of existence, it seems reasonable for member academies to assess whether their goals in being members of IFSAM are being achieved and/or whether IFSAM's stated goals are being achieved as effectively as they could.

As I step down from my executive role with IFSAM, I would have to say that I take with me both positive and negative experiences of IFSAM. On the positive side, I have been grateful to make the acquaintance of and ‘break bread’ with some of the most delightful people it has been my pleasure to meet. The sheer diversity of our membership is itself a treasure that it not available to us as we are cocooned within our respective associations. The approach to working together on each other’s terms, born of a genuine respect for each other’s national and cultural differences is an inspiration for one whose field of management research interest is about people in organisations. This is also reflected in the group of people who constitute what is a truly ‘global’ management conference, rather than one that is merely ‘international’.

On the other hand, there is a series of issues about which I have concerns and which I share with others have also indicated their concern. If I start with the IFSAM Conference, it is, as I said, a truly ‘global’ affair. At the same time, concern has been expressed about the low participation rates of top international scholars in IFSAM conferences. We do well to attract the diverse range of people we do. The key now is to translate that success into a base for ensuring that our conferences are truly a meeting of the great minds – those who attend the IFSAM global conference have right to expect to hear the best in the world. I have no ready answer as to how to attract more of these scholars to our conferences (beyond making sure they know well in advance of the time and place and that we actively encourage them to join us) but I think it is an issue that future conference organisers have to consider.

While we operate in a fashion that allows a great deal of flexibility and takes account of national and cultural differences, this ‘flexibility’ also leads to problems in terms of governance (eg, on what issues does the IFSAM Council have authority and on what issues should the member associations be consulted). Indeed, are people really clear on why IFSAM exists and, therefore, whether an IFSAM Council should have any authority at all? This leads me to ask whether a thorough- going review of IFSAM, its aims/purposes is in order.

I think there is no doubt that all the associations benefit from the opportunity to meet with each other on an annual basis and IFSAM provides an appropriate umbrella for that kind of activity. I know from my experience with INTERMAN also of the value of the face-to-face communication as a basis for people working together effectively in the period between meetings. It is important that a group that reflects the interests of participants as a whole arranges these meetings and this is done by virtue of the group’s composition, rather than simply being hosted by one of interested parties.

The value of a biannual 'world' conference, carefully programmed and diarised is also, a benefit, but I wonder whether there is a need for a more co-operative/collaborative process where the organiser, through IFSAM, makes contact with the other member associations to clarify the key requirements for a successful conference from each of the members' perspectives. Drawing on the experience of AoM, for example, with the differing 'requirements' of our colleagues from different cultural and academic backgrounds, would provide the organiser with a fertile base for developing a truly 'world' conference.

Beyond these two key activities, which involve the promotion of international co-operation and collaboration by a structure that is of the members, but not one from within one of the members, I wonder at the value of a broader role for IFSAM. To carry out these tasks - promoting interchange institutionally and academically - is a major undertaking, and maybe it is better to do these few things well than to dissipate our efforts across a range of activities. Then members could see value for their $1,000 US per year. As one of the first steps of rededication to the principles which brought people together to establish IFSAM, might I suggest that we invite the Presidents/incoming Presidents of our member academies to the Montreal meeting? This would be in acknowledgement of the 10th anniversary of IFSAM and as a time of recommitment (or even first-time commitment) to the ideals and vision of IFSAM. I think it important symbolically and politically to mark IFSAM's entry into the new millennium and to get 'buy-in'/commitment of the member academies once more.’ It was

Moved Professor Ryder, Second Professor Irving, that

‘The Report of the Membership Committee be received and its contents, including Mr Lamond’s observations, be endorsed.’ Approved.

13. Structure and Membership of Committees

It was agreed that the following Committee Structure and membership would operate for the period between the Helsinki and Montreal Council Meetings. It was also agreed that the Chair of each committee would prepare a statement of principles concerning the functions of the Committee and seek membership of committees from those associations not represented at the Helsinki meeting:

Nominating Committee:

Membership Committee

Journal Committee

Research Committee

Communications Committee

.

Conference Site Committee

Finance Committee

Business Committee

Approved.

14. IFSAM Chinese Commission

The meeting considered a request from our colleagues at CNEMA regarding their intention to host the “1st Management Conference of World Chinese Business” on October 29 to 31, 1999 in Shanghai, with Association of Overseas Chinese of China, Fudan University, and Commercial Association of American Chinese. It was

Moved Mr Lamond, Second Professor Hammond-Ketilson, that

‘IFSAM supports the 1^st Management Conference of World Chinese Business to the extent of recognising the conference as an IFSAM activity, but regrets that no funds can be provided by IFSAM for this purpose.’ Approved.

15. Other Business

15.1 Election of New Secretary

The election of Professor Bamber as President-elect, required Mr Lamond to step down as Secretary, to ensure the geographic spread of the Executive. It was

Moved Mr Lamond, Second Professor Pesqueux, that

‘Mike Hitt be elected Secretary for the remaining period of the current term, ie until December 2000.’ Approved.

15.2 IFSAM Relationship with INTERMAN

The meeting received and discussed the report from the outgoing Secretary, David Lamond, who attended an INTERMAN meeting in Santiago de Chile, in May, 1999, as per the Council Meeting Papers. . It was

Moved Mr Lamond, Second Professor Pesqueux, that

‘The report from David Lamond be received and noted, and the decision of the sub-committee (comprising the President and Treasurer), to approve use of $US2,684.90 by David Lamond to attend the INTERMAN conference in Chile on May 9-11, be ratified.’ Approved

Moved Mr Lamond, Second Professor Hitt, that

‘The President write to Felipe Alfonso, congratulating ADSGM on the success of its bid to host the 2002 INTERMAN Global Management Forum, and seeking closer working relationships, both for the respective conferences and more generally, and inviting ADSGM to join IFSAM.’ Approved

Moved Mr Lamond, Second Professor Pesqueux, that

‘IFSAM (through ANZAM and the conference organiser at Griffith University) work with INTERMAN and ADSGM to develop a joint marketing approach to the ANZAM/IFSAM World Conference in July 2002 and the INTERMAN Global Management Forum in June 2002.’ Approved

15.3 Submission by CAMS regarding IFSAM Conference 2004

The meeting considered a request from our colleagues at CAMS regarding their wish to host the IFSAM 2004 Conference in Beijing. It was

Moved Mr Lamond, Second Professor Okubayashi, that

a) IFSAM welcomes the enthusiasm of our colleagues in CAMS to host this pivotal even and encourages CAMS to develop a full submission as part of the conference site selection process.

b) IFSAM reaffirms its commitment to the importance of its established competitive site selection process, as follows:

i) a general call for submissions to host the 2004 conference be circulated to IFSAM members as part of the minutes of this meeting

ii) submissions to host the 2004 Conference should include consideration of the following matters:

iii) The Conference Site Selection Committee prepares a report to the full Council that evaluates the submissions received against these criteria and makes a recommendation accordingly, to be ratified or amended by the full Council meeting as considered appropriate.

iv) The report of the Committee be prepared and circulated so to allow for constituent academies to be able to reach a decision for their representatives to reflect at the relevant Council meeting. Approved.

Meeting was adjourned at 5.00pm.