ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOCUS
Grant Thornton - UPEI Entrepreneurial Playground page 8
GROWING OUR INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT
UPEI BBA offered in Egypt page 15
NEW PROGRAMS
New MBA in Global Leadership page 18
Engage is published by the Faculty of Business at the University of Prince Edward Island. EDITOR: Mary Whitrow CONTRIBUTORS: Sherilyn Acorn, Dr. Andrew Carrothers, Dr. Xiao Chen, Dr. Qian (Claire) Deng, Alex Dunne, Dr. Gary
Evans, Devon Fletcher, Zach Geldert, Koren Glenn, Dr. Susan Graham, Chris Huggan, Melissa James, Dr. Blake Jelley, Dr. Jurgen Krause, Amy MacFarlane, Dr. Tarek Mady, Grace McCourt, Charlene Miller, Matthew Pauley, Dr. Tina Saksida, Dr. Don Wagner, Dr. Hayden Woodley, Dr. Liufang (Sophia) Yao
PHOTOS: Board of the PEI Coalition for Women in Government, Devon Fletcher, JA Prince Edward Island, Dr. Tarek
Mady, Melanie McKenna, UPEI Business Society, UPEI Co-operative Education, UPEI Department of Athletics and Recreation, UPEI EMBA Program, UPEI Marketing and Communications, UPEI MBA in Global Leadership, UPEI Professional Education and Career Development
DESIGNER: Results Marketing & Advertising ON THE COVER: (L-R) Damilola Emmanuel, Melanie McKenna, Heran (Kyle) Li
Special thanks to Zach Geldert, Dr. Tina Saksida, UPEI Marketing and Communications, and the Office of the Dean for their contributions. FOR ALL INQUIRIES:
Faculty of Business, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, Canada C1A 4P3 Tel: (902) 566-0564 Email: business@upei.ca www.upei.ca/business
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ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
CONTENTS 4
Dean’s Message
5
Prestigious Atlantic Canadian Scholarship
6
The Future is Bright for Leadership Award Recipient
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Grant Thornton – UPEI Entrepreneurial Playground
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Enriching the Experience
10
Athletics and Business; A Relationship of Mutual Support
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Beyond Borders: Growing Business and Cultural Knowledge through Exchanges
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Raising the Bar: How UPEI Business Prepares Students for Law School
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Business at UPEI celebrates 50th Anniversary
15
Growing our International Footprint
16
EMBA Alumni Focus: Andrew Dickinson
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Know to Grow: Professional Development at UPEI
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UPEI’S New MBA in Global Leadership
20
Faculty Updates
22
New Faculty Members
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Entrepreneur, Educator, and Leader
24 25 26
Emotional Intelligence: A Global Skillset
Research for Positive Change
Extending and Supporting Analytics with Evidence-Based Management 3
DEAN’S MESSAGE THE 2017–2018 ACADEMIC YEAR was again filled with highlights and significant achievements for the Faculty of Business. The many accomplishments, as well as opportunities and benefits created for students and our community as a result of our continued growth, are highlighted in this issue of ENGAGE. Foremost among them are the establishment of our new Masters of Business Administration in Global Leadership, our new branch campus at the University of Canada in Egypt, and our new professional development portfolio and programs that support the training and development needs of community members, government, and industry. During the past academic year, our students continued to attain regional and national recognition for their achievements, including winning awards and honours for excellence in academic endeavours, leadership roles, and business case competitions. UPEI Business alumni are excelling in pursuits around the world—from graduating from prestigious law schools to leading UPEI’s international expansion of the BBA program in Egypt. Seeing students succeed during and after their time at UPEI is always a matter of great satisfaction and joy for everyone in the Faculty of Business. The positive impact that past, present, and future students will have on their communities and employers around the world will make us proud for years to come. We want to sustain our current growth, continue to strengthen programs, and promote key initiatives to foster future success. The new direct-entry MBA in Global Leadership, as well as the existing Executive MBA program for working business professionals, will provide students with the opportunity to continue their career growth in PEI and give them the skills and knowledge required to excel in a business world that is becoming ever more globalized. An additional student offering includes a partnership with Grant Thornton Canada to jointly mentor and support young entrepreneurs in our new Grant Thornton - UPEI Entrepreneurial Playground. Furthermore, and coinciding with UPEI’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2019, we have accepted the honour to become next year’s host of the 24th edition of the Network of International
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Carmelita Roberts (2018-2019 Business Society President) and Dean Jurgen Krause at 2016 Dean’s Honours Awards
Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition. To bolster all these efforts, we have hired a number of new faculty members and sessional instructors to join our team of first-class educators and researchers. In this latest issue of ENGAGE, we describe our globally oriented initiatives that align with our aspiration to further position UPEI as a leader in business education. I invite you to explore the following pages and find out more about our Faculty of Business. We hope we can be a part of your future! ■
Dr. Jurgen Krause, MSc, PhD Dean, Faculty of Business
ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
PRESTIGIOUS ATLANTIC CANADIAN SCHOLARSHIP By Zach Geldert
SYDNEY GALLANT, a BBA 2018 graduate with a specialization in Finance, was awarded the prestigious Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies in the fall of 2017. Each year, the $25,000 scholarship is awarded to up to eight undergraduate business students, attending an Atlantic Canadian university, who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in business, and dedication to extracurricular, community, and entrepreneurial activities.
“I am honoured to be recognized for all the hard work and extra-curricular activities I took part in while at UPEI.”
Throughout her time at UPEI, Sydney fulfilled these expectations to the highest degree. She was a team member in the Case Competition Program for two years, and she dedicated her time to enriching the lives of her fellow classmates through her leadership roles in the UPEI Business Society and the PEI Business Women’s Association. Sydney believes these activities allowed her to put the concepts she learned in class into practice and enhance her academic experience through applied learning. Sydney is pursuing a law degree at the University of Ottawa in the fall and is grateful for the Frank H. Sobey award as it alleviates some of the financial burden that many students face when entering a professional program. “I am honoured to be recognized for all the hard work and extra-curricular activities I took part in while at UPEI. I am excited to be included in the network of entrepreneurs and recipients of the Sobey Foundation award in Atlantic Canada. I know I will proudly carry that with me beyond my time at UPEI.” She is also grateful for the support she received along the way from the Faculty of Business, “Thank you to the kind and knowledgeable professors that took the time to mentor me and help me reach my fullest potential.” Best of luck in Ottawa Sydney! ■
Sydney Gallant
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THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT By Zach Geldert
ANDREW CHAPMAN, a BBA 2018 graduate with a specialization in accounting, was one of ten national recipients of the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership. The award recognizes students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their academic and extra-curricular initiatives and provides them with $7,500
bursary to go toward further educational aspirations. Andrew attended the awards gala in February in Toronto and was able to network with many influential business people from all across Canada. Andrew believes that the extracurricular opportunities he had while attending UPEI were an integral part of his growth and progress as a student. He was put in leadership roles as a member of both the Business Society executive and the Case Competition program, where he excelled and improved his critical thinking and decisionmaking skills. Being a team member in the intensive Case Competition program was a significant part of Andrew’s experience. He takes great pride in the accomplishments his team achieved during his time in the program; a second place finish at the Alberta Not-for-Profit International Case Competition in 2017 and competing in the championship round of the Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition in Guatemala in 2018. Being put to the test in these rigorous competitions and during weekly case practices at UPEI gave him the chance to further hone his skills and helped to prepare him for the business world. In September, Andrew will start working at the Charlottetown accounting firm MacPherson Roche Smith to pursue his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. With the foundation that Andrew has built from his time at UPEI, the connections he made while attending the award ceremony in Toronto, and Andrew’s can-do entrepreneurial spirit, it is obvious that he will make a big splash in the business world. ■
Andrew Chapman
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ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
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The Value of the CPA Designation
David Green, CPA, CA
Emily Merrill, CPA, CMA
Chief Financial Officer, Diversified Metal Engineering Ltd.
Chief Financial Officer, Island Abbey Foods Ltd™
Lindsay Power, CPA, CMA, MBA Senior Finance Project Manager, Vector Aerospace
Kent Thompson, CPA, CMA, MBA Director of Finance and Food Tourism, Food Island Partnership PEI
Matthew Cassidy, CPA, CA Vice-President of Finance, Coach Atlantic Group
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GRANT THORNTON – UPEI ENTREPRENEURIAL PLAYGROUND By Zach Geldert
THE PROCESS OF TAKING A BUSINESS IDEA and turning into reality can be a rocky road for many entrepreneurs. Thankfully, the journey can be made smoother with the help of engaged and knowledgeable mentors who advise entrepreneurs and help them succeed. The UPEI Faculty of Business has always been supportive of students who wish to develop their own ventures but now with the generous assistance of Grant Thornton LLP, Canada’s largest accounting firm and PEI’s largest tax and business advisory firm, the Faculty of Business is in a position to take that support a step further. We are proud to announce the launch of our new Grant Thornton – UPEI Entrepreneurial Playground (the Playground) within the Hostetter Centre for Enterprise & Entrepreneurship. The Playground is a place where UPEI students can go to receive help and guidance when they want to start their
own business. To help ensure they have the best chance for success, Grant Thornton will be offering presentations on relevant topics such as business plan development, basic accounting for business, and government tax credits. They will also establish industry connections that can help budding entrepreneurs scale up their business, conduct on-site meetings in the Playground with participants, supply advisory material about starting a business, and offer a start-up services package if the student registers a business. Grant Thornton is excited to be sponsoring students at UPEI and is hoping to drive growth in PEI through a responsive, local team of experienced advisers who can help new entrepreneurs turn their ideas into businesses. Grant Thornton is supported by a national network of accounting and business advisory professionals who can be called upon to help share their specialized insights when needed. “As a longtime supporter of UPEI, we’re pleased to be partnering on the Playground. Our people take a great deal of pride in helping businesses and our business community grow, so working with our next generation of entrepreneurs is something we’re all looking forward to,” says Kathy O’Rourke, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton. Stay tuned! Each year Engage magazine will feature entrepreneurs resulting from this exciting program. We cannot wait to see some of the ideas that the Grant Thornton – UPEI Entrepreneurial Playground will help bring to life. ■
(L-R) Kathy O’Rourke, Paul Deighan, Trevor Kennedy 8
ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
ENRICHING THE EXPERIENCE By Alex Dunne, 2017–18 President of the UPEI Business Society
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, the UPEI Business Society has functioned as a link between UPEI Business students and the Prince Edward Island business community. During the 2017–2018 fall and winter semesters, the Business Society strengthened this connection through two key events: its second annual Business Society Case Competition and the 41st Annual Business Society Luncheon. The case competition took place in January 2018 and was sponsored by MRSB Group, which helped to grow the event from its founding in 2017. The competition was introductory, so most students were solving a case for the first time. This provided the chance for those who were interested in the case competition program, problem solving, and public speaking to try the experience in a fun and low-risk environment. Current UPEI Case Competition members served as mentors to the five teams of UPEI Business students. The judging panel was composed of UPEI Case Competition Program Coordinator Mary Whitrow, UPEI Finance professor, Dr. Andrew Carrothers, and three representatives from MRSB Group. After the presentations, the competitors, volunteers, professors from the UPEI Faculty of Business, and MRSB Group staff attended a networking social in downtown Charlottetown, where food was served and the winning team was announced. The case competition
provided the chance for students to work together and test their real-life business skills while networking with UPEI professors and local businesspeople. The luncheon is the Business Society’s flagship event each year, and brings together hundreds of community members to network, have lunch, and listen to a keynote speech by a nationally recognized business leader. This year, the luncheon took place in March at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in downtown Charlottetown. The keynote speaker was J. Scott McCain, President of JSM Capital Corporation and Director of McCain Foods Ltd. Approximately 300 members of the business community attended the event, and thanks to generous ticket donations from the businesses, over 40 UPEI Business students attended. Students were seated with businesses that were in their area or industry of interest, enabling them to make connections that could open up future job opportunities. The UPEI Business Society strongly believes that each of these networking opportunities provides a win-win situation. While business students gain the valuable opportunity to broaden their network of potential employers, local businesses are able to meet bright young students that will soon be entering the workforce. By facilitating these events, the UPEI Business Society reinforces the ongoing relationship between the business leaders of today and those of tomorrow. ■
Business Society Executive at 2018 Luncheon. Back Row (L-R) Dan Timen, Quinton Gorman, Kevin Murphy, Sam MacPhail, J. Scott McCain, Alex Dunne, Jackson Reddin, Andrew Chapman, Isaac Dawson, Callum Wood, Colin Koughan Front Row (L-R) Barrington Duffy, Sydney Gallant, Laura Ready, Carmelita Roberts, Bailey Dawson
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ATHLETICS AND BUSINESS;
A RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL SUPPORT By Zach Geldert and Chris Huggan, Director of UPEI Athletics and Recreation
will not be held on Fridays, as many student-athletes have to travel for competition. This provides them with the best opportunity to achieve both academic and athletic success.
(L-R) D’Adrian Allan, Moshe Wadley, Matt Brar, Vernelle Johnston, Dr. Jurgen Krause, Milorad Sedlarevic, Samy Mohamed, Nick Duncan
THE PATHS OF PURSUING EXCELLENCE in athletics and business share much in common: both are demanding of one’s time and effort, a small miscalculation can spell demise, and self-motivation and drive are integral to realizing success. But perhaps most importantly, the road to success is often paved with a few setbacks and false starts. UPEI’s Director of Athletics and Recreation Chris Huggan and Dean of Business Jurgen Krause acknowledge this comparable journey, and over the past couple of years, they have been collaborating to foster the symbiotic relationship between the Athletics and Recreation department and Faculty of Business at UPEI.
Another exciting facet of the growing bond between UPEI Athletics and Recreation and the Faculty of Business is related to the UPEI Co-operative Education program. They are identifying and developing co-op work terms within the Athletics department, where students can mix their passion for sports with their academic endeavours. Students can build on their skills and knowledge from their classes and use the experience as a springboard towards a future career on the business side of sports. While this program is not running yet, Huggan is excited to see it in the future. UPEI’s Faculty of Business and Department of Athletics and Recreation have been preparing student-athletes to become leaders in their communities for more than 50 years. These new connections only strengthen the partnership and provide students with more opportunities to improve and grow in both arenas. Go Panthers! ■
An initiative that bolsters this connection is the new one-year Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Global Leadership that is launching in the fall of 2018. This program will give student-athletes a chance to receive a meaningful, door-opening graduate degree that they can pursue in their fifth year of eligibility. The Faculty consulted Huggan on program design and class scheduling during the development of the curriculum. The result is a program that is supportive and accommodating to student-athletes. For example, classes
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ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
BEYOND BORDERS: GROWING
BUSINESS AND CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EXCHANGES By Zach Geldert MANY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS travel abroad during their breaks from school. The experience can give them a taste of a variety of different countries, landmarks, and cultures.
“Being in a culture that is completely different than your own frees your thinking and almost forces you to look inward when adapting,” he adds.
Sherilyn Acorn-LeClair, International Liaison Officer in the UPEI Office of Study Abroad and International Collaboration, believes that although travelling is beneficial, studying abroad is even more fruitful.
This adaptation process also made him take notice of his surroundings. Devon was inspired by the architecture of Barbados and how it differed from home. It spurred a budding interest in real estate and has motivated Devon to pursue, not one, but three specializations in organizational management, marketing, and entrepreneurship. These will help him achieve his goal of becoming a private contractor in Charlottetown.
“When you go on an exchange you are in the same place for four to eight months and you really become a part of the community, rather than simply a visitor. It is your new home for this period of time. These opportunities are life-changing for many students.” Devon Fletcher, who is entering his third-year of business, found the exchange he participated in during his second year at UPEI to be transformative. Devon chose Barbados over the many other options because he wanted to immerse himself in a completely different culture. He attended the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and found the stay greatly expanded his view of the world.
Both Sherilyn and Devon have had people approach them to express their regret at not having pursued an exchange when they were at UPEI. For Devon, his exchange transformed his outlook on his future and helped him to grow, personally, culturally, and professionally. His parting message echoes Sherilyn’s, “Go on an exchange, the experience is invaluable!.” ■
“It helped me grow my sense of empathy,” says Devon. “I was not part of the majority and it gave me a better idea of what that feels like.” The warmth he received from his hosts was inspiring; everyone he interacted with was welcoming and treated him as a friend. Now that he is back in PEI, Devon hopes to carry this attitude of openness and community with him going forward. Another highlight for Devon was the introspection that the exchange allowed him. Before going to Barbados, he did not have a clear sense of self or what he wanted to do after his time at UPEI.
Devon Fletcher (right) with Maddy Boswall, UPEI student, on Richard Haynes Boardwalk at Hastings Beach, Hastings, Barbados.
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RAISING THE BAR: HOW UPEI
BUSINESS PREPARES STUDENTS FOR LAW SCHOOL By Zach Geldert and Dr. Susan Graham, BBA, MBA, MPA, EdD
(L-R) Melanie McKenna (UPEI BBA 2015) and Rebecca Cole (UPEI BBA 2014) at the 2018 Dalhousie University, Schulich School of Law graduation ceremony
ASK ANY STUDENT ABOUT THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF LAW SCHOOL. Many will anecdotally tell you that it is an arduous endeavour. Students planning to eventually pursue a law degree often mull over which undergraduate program to enter. Political Science? Philosophy? Why not Business?
The UPEI Faculty of Business has a strong network of alumni who have pursued law degrees. Our graduates are attending several esteemed law schools including University of New Brunswick, University of Ottawa, Dalhousie University, York University, and Harvard University. Engage magazine caught up with some recent graduates and asked them how they felt the UPEI business program prepared them for law school. Parker Baglole (UPEI BBA 2014, Dalhousie JD/MBA 2018) highlighted how the UPEI Case Competition program enabled him to develop confidence in his abilities, “It helped me to improve my critical thinking skills and my ability to solve abstract problems - which is a big part of law school!” He added that while there is no “perfect background” for law school, the UPEI BBA program’s classes (and the program’s extra-curricular activities) helped him to develop professional, written, and oral communication skills that were very useful in law school. Reflecting on her experience at UPEI, Melanie McKenna (UPEI BBA 2015, Dalhousie JD 2018), noted that the time management and the ability to prioritize tasks was the biggest skill she acquired from the BBA program, “My time in the Faculty of Business had me busy doing class work, and being an active member in both the UPEI Business Society and the Case Competition program - this kept
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my schedule full and I was (happily) forced to learn how to prioritize what needed to be done first and how to finish it efficiently to move on to the next thing.” For Alicia Wilbert, (UPEI BBA 2012, Dalhousie JD 2018), the goal was always to work in private practice, where it is important to know how to build and manage relationships with clients and have a sense for business. The UPEI BBA allowed Alicia to complete a specialization in accounting and continue on to receive her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. She believes this certainly set her apart from others when applying to law school, and the knowledge and degree will undoubtedly be useful in her legal career. Additionally, participation in the Case Competition and Co-op programs both helped her gain an understanding of how to interact in a professional business environment: “This background knowledge and experience gave me the confidence to feel comfortable when dealing with partners at my firm, other lawyers, and clients.” Professor Susan Graham recommends that students who wish to pursue a BBA and a law degree take classes that emphasize public speaking, writing, research, and critical thinking. Many of the Faculty of Business courses have these skills naturally incorporated into their curriculum. For example, every business student is required to take a class in professional writing, business research, and business law. Additionally, courses such as Integrated Cases in Marketing emphasize presentation skills through class discussion and formal presentations. Each of the alumni interviewed suggested different takeaways from the business program, but all agreed that honing their professional and interpersonal skills gave them an advantage when attending law school. These “soft skills” are sought after in the legal profession, and they are embedded in the required curriculum and every extracurricular offered within the Faculty of Business at UPEI. ■ ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
@Innovation_PEI @InnovationPE
PROUD TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
BUSINESS AT UPEI CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY By Zach Geldert
An important event for the Faculty in this anniversary year is the 24th edition of the Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition, which will be held at UPEI in February 2019. This championship-round competition brings together some of the best business case teams from around the world for a week of intense competition, where teams will put their business skills to practical use as they work diligently to solve international business problems presented in a series of business cases. It presents an opportunity to showcase the University and Prince Edward Island, while growing and solidifying our international reputation as a recognized provider of top-class business education.
Don and Marion McDougall Hall
THE YEAR 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). In 1969, business programs were administered by a Department of Business Administration consisting of five faculty members and serving a total enrolment of 200 students. In 1983, driven by the desire to manage both the academic and the administrative aspects of business programs, UPEI created the School of Business. The School further evolved and expanded into the Faculty of Business in January 2017.
The Faculty of Business recognizes its strong traditions as the solid ground from which to build an opportunityrich future. And UPEI’s business education has been the foundation from which many of the Island’s business leaders have started their careers, using their skills, knowledge, and expertise to help organizations flourish. The Faculty is also proud that many of its graduates have continued on to excel in their fields in Canada and around the world. We will continue to respond to the everevolving needs of students and their future employers in order to serve Canadian and international students, as well as the Island community. ■
Today, UPEI’s Faculty of Business offers a breadth of undergraduate programs and two Master of Business Administration programs to over 800 students, who are served by 18 full-time faculty members and over 30 sessional instructors. Furthermore, a new professional education and career development portfolio provides training for community members, serving employers in the private and public sector.
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ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
UPEI delegation (including Dr. Alaa S. Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor Of UPEI) with UofCanada representatives (including Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and representatives of the Canadian embassy in Cairo) at the university construction site during the preliminary visit to UofCanada.
GROWING OUR INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT By Dr. Tarek Mady, BSc, MSc, PhD
THE FACULTY OF BUSINESS is pleased to announce that the UPEI Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program will be offered at the University of Canada, Egypt (UofCanada) as part of the Egyptian “New Administrative Capital” project.
UofCanada is a new physical footprint spread over a 50-acre, state-of-the-art smart campus for a consortium of Canadian partner universities offering different programs and degrees identical to those offered by these universities in Canada.
UPEI began discussions for an offshore academic program offering in Egypt a year ago after a Canadian parliamentary delegation visited the North African country to explore establishing a university complex in the New Capital. A delegation from the UPEI Faculty of Business visited the UofCanada site in July 2017 to assess the opportunity. They met with the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, representatives of the Canadian Embassy in Cairo, UofCanada executives, as well as Egyptian faculty members, university administrators, and potential students.
Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in business will be part of the UPEI BBA program in Egypt and, upon completion of the degree requirements, be granted the UPEI BBA degree. UofCanada will provide premises and facilities (i.e., land, buildings, infrastructure, labs, IT, equipment, etc.) as well as all administrative support in Egypt. There are no financial obligations for UPEI as the initiative is being funded entirely by UofCanada. UPEI will have exclusive jurisdiction and oversight on program delivery and ensure all requirements and policies pertaining to admissions, registration, academic regulations, program administration, teaching methodologies, and course evaluations are strictly followed.
Announced in 2015, the New Administration Capital is a massive national project designed to be the new administrative and financial capital of Egypt and house government ministries as well as foreign embassies. The New Capital will also include hundreds of educational institutions, a technology and innovation park, hospitals and clinics, an electric railway link with Cairo, a massive green space, and a new international airport. When complete, the New Capital will be a sprawling city of five to seven million people.
The Faculty of Business will offer the general BBA degree program at UofCanada as well as specializations in Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Finance, International Business, and Organizational Management. The first intake of students for the UofCanada BBA program is September 2018. ■
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EMBA ALUMNI FOCUS: ANDREW DICKINSON
By Grace McCourt and Dr. Tina Saksida
ANDREW DICKINSON holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/ Anthropology and Political Science from Mount Allison University, a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, and an Executive MBA (EMBA) from UPEI (2016 cohort, 2018 graduate). His EMBA signature project, Team Performance and Reducing Risk: Adding Prospective Hindsight Punctuation (PHP) to the Project Manager’s Toolkit, was awarded distinction; Andrew also received the School of Graduate Studies Award of Distinction for Business for his exemplary performance in the EMBA program. Andrew has 24 years of professional experience, mainly in IT-related positions. Before embarking on a new career path in June 2018, he spent nine years with a flexographic packaging manufacturer firm based in Amherst, Nova Scotia, in the role of Information Technology Manager. Andrew notes, “The 20 months that I spent immersed in the EMBA program at UPEI has truly been a life-changing experience. I entered the program in August 2016 with the feeling that my career was stalling, and I was not happy in my current role. I needed something to help me make a shift.”
the true depth and breadth of knowledge these experiences have provided. I saw clearly the strengths and skills I had to offer potential Andrew Dickinson employers in many other sectors beyond just information technology.” Andrew acknowledges that this new role is a fundamental shift in his career, but he is very excited and proud to represent UPEI. “Making the decision to enter the EMBA program at UPEI was a big personal and professional leap; now I recognize that I am faced with an even bigger one. The challenge is significant, but I am confident that I am up to it, especially in light of the knowledge, friendships, and professional networks I have gained through the EMBA program.” ■
Tailored accounting and advice that
It was not clear to Andrew what exactly that “shift” needed to be when he started the EMBA program, but an exciting opportunity arose while he was finishing the program in the spring of 2018—Andrew is now the Program Director of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program for UPEI’s new satellite campus at the University of Canada in Egypt. As Program Director, he is the point person for the UPEI BBA program in Egypt and is engaged in program administration, recruitment, day-to-day operations, and teaching. Andrew, his wife Denise, and two daughters moved to Cairo in June 2018 to begin this new chapter in their lives. Andrew reflects, “For the past 20 years, I have been an information technology professional in various manufacturing companies. I have had the opportunity to work in many countries, and my global responsibilities exposed me to many different complex scenarios and facets of business operations. As I took each course, the EMBA program helped me realize 16
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MAGAZINE | SUMMER 127 St. Peters Road, ENGAGE Suite 201, Charlottetown, PE,2018 C1A 5P3 Telephone 902-628-9000 Fax: 902-628-8808 • www.fitzandco.ca
KNOW TO GROW: PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AT UPEI By Zach Geldert
FOR OVER 10 YEARS, the Professional Development program at UPEI has contributed to the continuing success of leaders in Atlantic Canada in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. UPEI has delivered training to hundreds of individuals in the fields of leadership, conflict resolution, and management development. Professional Development at UPEI is unique in that the school and facilitators work with clients to deliver customizable course content to address specific training needs of individuals and teams. Koren Glenn, Professional Development team member, says, “Continuing education throughout your life is critical. The only way to grow, individually and as an organization, is through acquiring knowledge.” Trevor Murray of Quispamsis, New Brunswick can attest to this. Since 2016, Trevor has completed six courses focused on interpersonal communication and mediation, earning a certificate in the process. He has noticed the impact that these courses have had on both his professional and personal life. They have helped Trevor to be more effective in his role as Manager of By-Law Building Inspection and Enforcement for the Town of Quispamsis.
“Having the option to do courses either online or in class, combined with being able to enrol in one class at a time instead of a whole program was the reason I chose UPEI.” Initially, Trevor was not planning on completing the full certificate program. “I was only going to do a course or two, but the program structure was perfect for me and the professors were even better. They were knowledgeable and helped to foster a collaborative and engaging environment that made me want to continue taking courses.” UPEI is proud to have helped Trevor and many other professionals further their careers through the Professional Development program, and is excited to help many more! If you are looking for additional information please visit the Professional Development website at www.upei/professionaldevelopment/ ■
“Learning how to understand individuals’ values, rather than just their positions, has allowed me and my team to move from conflict to collaboration,” says Trevor. The personal impact that the courses have had is of particular importance to Trevor. He adds, “They have changed the way I think about interactions with the people in my life...to understand their point of view and to include their values in the situation.” When asked about his decision to travel from another province to further his professional development, instead of attending courses closer to home, Trevor noted that the flexibility of the course structure was a key in his decision.
Graduating class for the Collaborative Leadership and Facilitation Certificate Program, Spring 2018. Back Row (L-R) Ryan Crane, Sally Ferguson, Gerry Hopkirk, Karen Clare, Shannon Hartigan, Melissa Bruce, Julia Pike, Koren Glenn, Paula Gallant, Becky Bruce Front Row (L-R) Jason Thistle, Ron Ryder, George Hill, Diane Thibeault
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UPEI’S NEW MBA IN GLOBAL
LEADERSHIP
By Grace McCourt, EMBA Program Coordinator
AFTER SUCCESSFULLY offering the Executive MBA (EMBA) program for ten years, UPEI’s Faculty of Business is introducing a second MBA program, with a focus on Global Leadership. The existing EMBA program works well for students who have professional or management experience and who are not able to interrupt their careers for a significant amount of time to further their education. In past years, the EMBA has consistently received applications from individuals who did not yet possess the necessary work place experience to qualify for the EMBA, but who were looking to add to their skills and credentials early in their professional lives. The new MBA in Global Leadership is designed for these students, many who are international, and who want to invest in more education before gaining more work experience.
This MBA in Global Leadership offering has already admitted some strong applicants in the first cohort and going forward, it is anticipated that this new program will serve increasingly more internationally diverse cohorts of strong students. ■
Students can enter the program with an undergraduate degree in any discipline, provided they meet all other entry requirements (e.g., a strong academic record, a solid score in the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), and supportive reference letters). The new MBA in Global Leadership can be completed in twelve months, beginning in late August and finishing in early August of the following year. The program is composed of 14 for-credit courses: ten core courses, three electives, and a “capstone project” course. In keeping with a global theme, many courses will focus on the international context of their respective sub-disciplines. For example, the core marketing course explicitly focuses on international marketing. The program also includes a course on leadership and elements of leadership development for the duration of the program. The capstone project will involve a live project for a local company either looking to enter new international markets or to increase and expand their international presence.
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Dr. Don Wagner, Director, MBA in Global Leadership, and Jackson Reddin, recipient of a 2018 scholarship in the MBA in Global Leadership program.
ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
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FACULTY UPDATES DR. XIAO CHEN, assistant professor of management, recently concluded a study on the relationship between implicit motive (e.g., need for affiliation), emotional labour (i.e., surface acting), and flight attendants’ emotional exhaustion and physiological health in one of China’s largest airlines. In another project in collaboration with colleagues at the School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing (Tsinghua SEM) and the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and Didi Chuxing (China’s largest ride-hailing operator), Dr. Chen conducted a field experiment examining the effect of goal setting on driver productivity and performance over time. Lastly, Dr. Chen recently finished a research proposal, in collaboration with colleagues at Tsinghua SEM, Arizona State University, and Liepin.com (China’s “largest highend talent community-based recruitment site”), utilizing big data analytics to study job seekers’ online behaviours. Dr. Chen was invited as a facilitator for designing experiential classroom exercises (on ‘innovation and creativity’) at the 78th annual conference of the Academy of Management (August 2018 in Chicago, IL, USA) MELISSA JAMES, assistant professor, is continuing her research in the field of higher education research and has co-authored and published an article this year entitled “Exploring student satisfaction and future employment intentions”, in the Journal of Higher
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Education, Skills, and Work-Based Learning. Additionally, she is the sole author of “A comparative study of international recruitment—tensions and opportunities in institutional recruitment practice” published in May 2018 in the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education.
DR. BLAKE JELLEY has been promoted to the rank of professor. He was appointed to the Prince Edward Island Employment Standards Board in early 2018 and continues to serve on various other committees. Dr. Jelley received an Outstanding Reviewer Award (2017) from the M a n a g e me nt Education and Development Division of the Academy of Management and served on the 2018 Doctoral Awards National Selection Committee of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. He delivered a webinar on evidence-based management for the Conference Board of Canada and an outreach presentation for the PEI Seniors College about working with social comparisons. Dr. Jelley co-authored a paper and conference presentation with UPEI colleague, Dr. Tina Saksida (lead author), about efforts to teach evidence-based management in the UPEI Faculty of Business over the past decade. That work has been published in the Workplace Review. Dr. Jelley also co-authored an article published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science on test-taking motivation in promotional examinations with colleagues from the University of Calgary (Dr. Tom O’Neill, lead author, and Stephanie Law) and the University of Toronto (Dr. Julie McCarthy).
ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
DR. TAREK MADY, associate professor, received tenure at UPEI in 2017 (effective July 2018) and recently assumed the role of Associate Dean of Academic Initiatives for the Faculty of Business. He will oversee multiple initiatives including the UPEI BBA degree program offered in Egypt as part of the University of Canada in Egypt (UofCanada), as well as Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation, which the faculty is currently in early stages of pursuing. Dr. Mady continued his work as Associate Editor for the Journal of Global Marketing, a leading academic journal dedicated to advancing cutting-edge global marketing theories/practices, receiving a Certificate of Recognition for his outstanding work in this role between 2016 and 2017. He was also appointed to the Editorial Review Board of the International Journal of Emerging Markets in 2017 and joined the distinguished group of scholars contributing to this prestigious academic outlet. Dr. Mady presented a paper co-authored with Dr. Sarah Mady (American University, Washington, DC, USA) and Dr. John Ford (Old Dominion University, VA, USA) entitled “Intercultural Accommodation and Service Quality Perceptions: What Moderating Factors Really Matter to Ethnic Minority Consumers?” at the 46th Annual Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana in May 2018. During the conference, he also chaired a papers session entitled “Services and Customer Engagement” and participated as a panel member in the exclusive “Meet the Editors” session on behalf of the Journal of Global Marketing. Dr. Mady was honoured to be appointed as the Track Chair for the International Marketing Track at
the 47th Annual AMS conference to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2019. Dr. Mady recently published a study entitled “What Makes up Intentions to Purchase the Pioneer: A Theory of Reasoned Action Approach in India and the US” in the International Journal of Emerging Markets, the world’s premier journal focusing on issues related to business in emerging markets from multidisciplinary and multinational geographic perspectives.
DR. TINA SAKSIDA, assistant professor of management and the director of the Executive MBA program in the Faculty of Business, presented her research work at the 47th annual conference of the Atlantic Schools of Business (September 2017 in Wolfville, NS) and the 55th annual conference of the Canadian Industrial Relations Association (May 2018 in Montreal, QC) and was an invited panelist at the April 2018 Informed HR Event in Halifax, NS. She has had a paper on reverse mentoring accepted for publication in the highly regarded Human Resource Management (co-author) and a paper on teaching evidence-based management at UPEI published in the Workplace Review (lead author) with Dr. Blake Jelly. Furthermore, she currently has a paper under review at a top-ranked journal on gender and leadership in unions. ■
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NEW FACULTY MEMBERS DR. QIAN (CLAIRE) DENG, is a new assistant professor of marketing in the Faculty of Business. She holds a PhD in marketing from the Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta. She earned her Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and a Bachelor of Management from Fudan University, China. Dr. Deng’s research interests include congruity/ incongruity theory in marketing, extremely incongruent product designs, social sharing, brand extensions, viral marketing, retail atmospherics and analytics, and hospitality and tourism marketing. Prior to joining UPEI, Dr. Deng taught at the University of Alberta. Her teaching interests also include consumer behaviour and retail management. MATTHEW PAULEY, is a new assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Business and Director of the Hostetter Centre for Enterprise & Entrepreneurship. He is an award-winning teacher who has the professional teaching designation, “Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy”, in England; is currently completing his PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland; and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota. His primary research interest is in entrepreneurship, specifically in entrepreneurial exits with focus on wellbeing, intentions, and exit decision-making where he has presented papers at international conferences. Prior to joining UPEI, Professor Pauley has owned and operated multiple businesses and has experience in coaching and consulting with micro and small businesses. Additionally, he is certified in the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile, a tool used to assess entrepreneurial thinking for individuals and groups. These experiences, as well as engaging with local and international entrepreneurship networks, has helped to build Professor Pauley’s knowledge on the start-up, growth, maturation, and exiting stages of entrepreneurship that can help nurture and support business owners.
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DR. HAYDEN WOODLEY is a new assistant professor of management and is currently teaching Human Resource Management in the undergraduate program and Innovative Management in the Executive MBA graduate program. He earned an MSc and PhD in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. Dr. Woodley is the academic director of the UPEI Business Co-operative Education program and was a symposium panelist at the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada’s annual conference (May 2018). The panel, consisting of HR professors from across the country, discussed the future directions of Human Resource Management education in Canada. Dr. Woodley recently co-authored a publication in the Academy of Management Learning & Education journal on training constructive controversy in student learning teams. Dr. Woodley has recently become a board member of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Prince Edward Island and a member of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) Atlantic research committee. Dr. Woodley is planning to develop a research program with the latter organization. DR. LIUFANG (SOPHIA) YAO, is a new assistant professor of management science and operations management in the Faculty of Business. She currently teaches Operations Management, Research Methods, and Business Statistics. Dr. Yao holds a PhD in Management Science from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Prior to coming to Canada, she completed a MEng and a BEng from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China). Dr. Yao’s primary research interest is product recall optimization using operation research tools, particularly in the areas of product-recall initiation timing, recall risk mitigation with quality control, and after-recall cost mitigation. She has presented her research works on product recall management at several conferences including those hosted by the Canadian Operational Research Society and the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management journal. ■
ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
ENTREPRENEUR, EDUCATOR, AND LEADER By Zach Geldert
MIKE CASSIDY, FCPA, assistant professor in the UPEI Faculty of Business, has retired from teaching. Throughout his 25 years at UPEI, Professor Cassidy contributed to student growth and development in and out of the classroom. In the classroom, he has been known as a gregarious professor, sharing his ever-burgeoning excitement for business, entrepreneurship, and life-long learning with his students. Readers who have taken a course from him might be able to recite various memorable mantras from his lectures verbatim: the five (not four!) P’s of marketing, the four core business areas, “the Cliff ”, the “$5 bill”, and “road of life” where one best “ keep it between the lines”. The capstone project in Professor Cassidy’s class, “Let’s Go Live”, was an entrepreneurial project wherein students had to create a small, on-campus business that operates for only four hours. All proceeds from each group’s project went to improving study spaces in Don and Marion McDougall Hall building, where the Faculty of Business is based. Thanks to Professor Cassidy and his classes’ efforts, many areas in McDougall Hall are adorned with leather furniture and artwork, making the space more inviting and welcoming. An active entrepreneur in the Prince Edward Island business community for 32 years, Professor Cassidy currently owns and runs a number of diversified businesses, including the largest premium coach and transport service in Atlantic Canada. He was integral to bringing public transport to Charlottetown and intercity transit throughout the Maritimes. Professor Cassidy has received numerous honours and distinctions for his tireless efforts. In 2017, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada inducted him as Fellow for his contributions to the profession through his teaching at UPEI. He was also recognized as one
Laureate Mike Cassidy receiving his award from Doug Bridges & Ian Hanomansing. Photo by JA Prince Edward Island.
of Atlantic Canada’s leading entrepreneurs during the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. In 2018, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame, in part for his mentorship of young entrepreneurs in what he termed his “adopted son and/or daughter program.” Mike Cassidy has had an enormous impact on UPEI and the surrounding community. His work ethic is impeccable and his dedication is infectious for all those who meet him. UPEI has been fortunate to have his expertise help shape the direction of the accounting and entrepreneurship programs and he will undoubtedly be missed in his retirement. Faculty, staff, and students wish Professor Cassidy all the best in the next stop along his ‘road of life’. ■
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EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: A GLOBAL SKILLSET By Dr. Hayden Woodley, MSc, PhD, CHRL
TECHNOLOGY has made it easier for humans to connect across the globe and our economy has followed suit, leading to an increase in multinational or ‘global’ organizations. The effects of the global economy, however, are not limited to large, global organizations. Even small businesses are feeling a push to go global. A 2016 study by USForex found that 58 per cent of small businesses already have international customers and that 72 per cent planned to increase their international customer base in 2017. Further, websites like freelancer.com and fiverr.com have helped millions of small businesses hire people from all over the world to complete tasks that they do not have the resources to complete. This has allowed these small businesses to take advantage of a broader pool of expertise that previously was only available to larger, more global organizations. A result of this global, knowledge-based economy is an increasingly diverse work environment. As organizations—large or small—continue to reach across borders, they are experiencing an increasing number of employees, customers, and clients from different cultural backgrounds. This trend, however, has created an intriguing challenge for global organizations as cultural differences can lead to miscommunication (Feely & Harzig, 2003) and social conflict (Vaara, Sarala, Stahl & Björkman, 2012). This has made it important for leaders in these organizations to ‘go global’ and adapt to this changing work environment, especially in regards to developing and managing interpersonal relationships. The question remains: what do leaders need to be able to do to address this growing challenge? One potential solution that has received increased attention is whether a leader is able to recognize and regulate his or her emotions and the emotions of others. This skillset is often referred to as a person’s “emotional intelligence”. Although the expression of emotions is largely consistent across the globe (Elfenbein & Ambady, 2002), some differences have been found in how cultures interpret (Masuda et al., 2008) and process (Eid & Diener, 2001) their emotions. This is why some scholars have argued that, in today’s global economy, effective 24
leaders need to be able to manage and regulate their own emotions and the emotions of others (e.g., their followers, customers and clients). In support of this argument, evidence has demonstrated that people who have higher emotional intelligence perform better at their job (Cote & Miners, 2006), are better at motivating others (Barling, Slater & Kelloway, 2000; Palmer et al., 2001) and are better at resolving interpersonal conflicts that can derail a team (Jordan & Troth, 2009). Consistent with this evidence, it has become increasingly clear in the UPEI Faculty of Business that emotional intelligence is a soft skill that organizations are looking for in job candidates. Whether it is through our Co-op program, campus job fairs, or meetings with partnering organizations, the need to develop students’ emotional intelligence has continued to emerge as an area of interest for organizations. Therefore, this past school year, I trialled an emotional intelligence development program in my Human Resources Management course, which allowed students to develop their own emotional intelligence skills. Through a partnership with Sigma Assessment Systems, an evidence-based assessment company based in Canada, students were given the opportunity to complete the Multidimensional Emotional Intelligence Assessment (MEIA). Students who completed the assessment received a full feedback report tailored to them individually and received guidance on how to improve their emotional intelligence. Students were also able to work together to discuss their reports, and by the end of the training session, each student had created his/her own specific plan on how continue to develop emotional intelligence outside the classroom. As organizations in today’s economy continue to globalize, having certain soft skills (e.g., emotional intelligence) has become increasingly important for career success. To make sure that our students are ready for this global economy, the Faculty of Business is taking an innovative approach to training students by assessing and developing their emotional intelligence to prepare them to become global leaders. ■
ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
RESEARCH FOR POSITIVE CHANGE AS WE CONSIDER the issue of racial and gender equality in our schools and workplaces, we must ask ourselves; what we can do individually to contribute to positive change? For Dr. Gary Evans, Dip. CS, BA, BComm (Hon), MBA, PhD, an academic researcher and advocate for diversity, integrating evidence-based research into the implementation of positive change was the obvious answer. Dr. Evans has taken the opportunity to combine his research from two different avenues to help promote racial and gender equality. Since 2016, Dr. Evans has been a board member for the Coalition for Women in Government and has accumulated ample evidence-based corporate governance research showing that boards with increased gender and diversity perform better on a number of measures, including financial performance, risk management, and Board Members of the Coalition for Women in Government, Back row (L-R): Gary Evans, Hannah Bell, Shawn Murphy, Dawn Wilson Front row (L-R): Pat Mella, Jane Ledwell, Judy Clark, Michelle Harris-Genge board culture. Taking steps to increase gender and diversity on boards is not just the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do. Dr. the report with colleagues from the University of New Evans has outlined this evidence in a series of workshops Brunswick and St. Francis Xavier University on pathways and information sessions both locally and internationally. to improving education and labour opportunities. The research discovered material offensive to Indigenous In May 2018, Dr. Evans published an opinion letter in populations in some of the educational material used PEI’s The Guardian supporting Motion 60, put forward within the K-12 education system. The research group by the Minister Responsible for Status of Women Paula successfully appealed to the provincial government Biggar, which would modernize provincial agencies, of Prince Edward Island to have the material removed boards and commissions to consider gender and diversity. from the curriculum. Another cross-discipline research project in 2017 studied the labour readiness of Atlantic Canada’s Indigenous population. Being a member of the Indigenous community, this research holds a special importance to Dr. Evans. Dr. Ronald J. MacDonald, Dean of the Faculty of Education at UPEI; Dawne Knockwood, an Indigenous master’s research student; and Dr. Evans jointly authored
Dr. Evans’ research and advocacy demonstrates that with an evidence-based approach, we can add value to our society and work towards eliminating racism and exclusion. He believes that as teachers of the future leaders of business, it is imperative that researchers and professors lead by example, because inclusiveness and equality are core elements of good business and society. ■
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EXTENDING AND SUPPORTING ANALYTICS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT By Dr. Blake Jelley, PhD, CPHR
THIS YEAR’S scandal involving Cambridge Analytica and Facebook has heightened public awareness about the potential for misuse of personal information. Data privacy is not a new issue. Other cases involving the contentious use of analytics exist. As one example, in February 2012, the New York Times Magazine reported about Target’s use of analytics to send pregnancy-related coupons to a teenager. Unfortunately, as the story goes, that customer had not told her family about her pregnancy until the coupons raised concerns (Duhigg, 2012). Analytics can be applied to many domains—politics, public policy, marketing, sports, and health are some
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examples. People analytics or human resource (HR) analytics was a theme of the Conference Board of Canada’s Evidence-Based HR 2017 event. I used my invitation to present at that event and in a subsequent Conference Board of Canada webinar to position HR analytics within a broader evidence-based management (EBMgt) framework. Beyond the HR domain, I believe the EBMgt framework and use of analytics to inform decision-making is complementary in a general sense. The most commonly used evidence-based management framework consists of four elements—ethics and stakeholder concerns, practitioner judgement and expertise, evidence from the local context, and principles and evidence derived from formal research (Briner, Denyer,
ENGAGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018
& Rousseau, 2009). HR analytics refers to a practice “enabled by information technology that uses descriptive, visual, and statistical analyses of data related to HR processes, human capital, organizational performance, and external economic benchmarks to establish business impact and enable data-driven decision-making” (Marler & Boudreau, 2017, p. 15). That definition is consistent with my view that HR analytics has a particularly close connection with EBMgt’s local evidence element (e.g., data within an organization). HR analytics focuses and elaborates on the data analysis and information technology components implied in the local evidence element of the EBMgt framework. Another slight difference is that EBMgt proponents more prominently discuss experimentation and research design. The two approaches have a lot of common ground in the local evidence element yet offer complementary considerations to extend the potential for meaningful contributions. The external economics benchmarks noted in the HR analytics definition may reflect aspects of the local evidence element and the formal research element. Of course, the volume and variety of information available in formal research literature extend well beyond economic indicators. Insights from decades of research published in peer-reviewed journals can complement local evidence in the decision-making process. The formal research element is one way the EBMgt framework can extend the analytics perspective. Also, the EBMgt framework encourages explicit, critical consideration of human experience and judgement as part of the decision-making process. Critical reflection on human judgment and biases should, in some instances, encourage the use of well-developed algorithms to increase fairness in decision-making (e.g., employee selection). Regarding the contentious cases noted earlier, I argue that a central benefit of the broader EBMgt framework
is that it reminds us to attend carefully to ethics and stakeholder concerns. That is not to say that many people working in analytics do not already consider ethical issues. However, based on my cursory review of about a dozen of the emerging masters-degree programs in analytics it is not clear how analytics students are learning about the norms, standards, and legal requirements inherent in behavioural research. Only one program had a course title that related clearly to research ethics. Analytics professionals dealing with humans’ data function as applied behavioural scientists need to consider their associated responsibilities. Richard Thaler, the winner of the 2017 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, described the exploitive application of behavioural science as “sludge,” in contrast to “nudging” people to choose actions that improve their conditions. Ethical use of analytics requires not only avoiding deliberate exploitation but also the consideration of potential, unintended side effects of analytics in practice. References Briner, R. B., Denyer, D., & Rousseau, D. M. (2009). Evidence-based management: Concept clean-up time? Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(4), 19-32. Duhigg, C. (2012, February 16). How companies learn your secrets. The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shoppinghabits.html Marler, J. H., & Boudreau, J. W. (2017). An evidence-based review of HR Analytics. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(1), 3-26. Thaler, R.H. (2018, May 7). Behavioural economics from nuts to ‘nudges’. Chicago Booth Review. Retrieved from http://review.chicagobooth.edu/behavioral-science/2018/ article/behavioral-economics-nuts-nudges ■
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