In
The Chronicle's “The Innovation Imperative,” report, we sat down with David D. Perlmutter, a professor and dean of the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University, to hear how he decides which “great idea” to back.
In his experience, Perlmutter has found that faculty members plan to innovate, not necessarily to save money. Most administrators, he explains, want to spend their careers building and sustaining rather than chipping away. While he has made peace with this, as dean, Perlmutter still needs to focus on following budget and aligning with the institution's overall financial goals.
Perlmutter’s biggest piece of advice when faced with a new idea? Ask yourself, “Is it sustainable?” It may be difficult to remain unbiased, but in-depth research and results data generally speak for themselves.
