1. Copyright 2006 1 How Academe and Business Can Connect Roger Clarke Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, Canberra Visiting Professor in eCommerce, Uni. of Hong Kong; Cyberspace Law & Policy, U.N.S.W.; and Computer Science, ANU http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/EC/...... ICEC06-ABC {.html,.ppt} ICEC06 – Fredericton NB – 15 August 2006

2. Copyright 2006 2 How Academe and Business Can Connect What does Academe think Academe does? What would Business like Academe to do? What are the Bridges?

3. Copyright 2006 3 What Does Academe Think Academe Does? Develops Deep Knowledge Accumulates Knowledge by: basing research on current Theory extending current Theory Researches whats Empirically Researchable or Conducts Experiments that are interesting Achieves Quality through Rigour Gets Rewarded for Publications whose Rigour has been Confirmed

4. Copyright 2006 4 Theory Formal Theory: A coherent group of general propositions that enable a systematic description of Phenomena within a particular Domain (and maybe explanation, even prediction) As distinct from Ad Hoc Theory: A conjectural, as-yet-untested description

5. Copyright 2006 5 What Would Business Like Academe To Do? Address Current Topics whether or not Empirically Researchable and whether or not theyre interesting Pursue Instrumentalist Research (rather than conventional Pure or Applied) Stimulate Innovation Achieve Quality through a Balance between Relevance against Rigour Get Rewarded for Work whose Relevance has been Confirmed

6. Copyright 2006 6 Alternative Motivations for Research Pure Research because its there contribute to abstract, theoretical understanding Applied Research I have a hammer, so go and find me a nail Instrumentalist Research I have a problem, so go and find me a solution

7. Copyright 2006 7 An Eternal Tension in Research Relevance vs. Rigour Associations with Rigour Independence, through Pure Research Motivation Outcomes that are Explanatory Quantitative Data / Ratio Scales / Statl Analysis Determinable Causal Relationships Associations with Relevance Motivation that is Instrumental, or Applied Outcomes that are Predictive and Normative Whatever Data is Collectible Complex Interdependencies

8. Copyright 2006 8 So: What are the Bridges? Interact To convert misunderstanding to appreciation Resource To encourage business-relevant research Reward To compete with conventional academic rewards, and hence to shape them