Fostering Innovative Capacity via Organizational Reward Systems: The Case of Faculty Collaboration

The purpose of this study is to reveal, through the use of case study methodology, howfaculty collaboration may foster the development of intellectual capital and how organizationalreward systems mediate this process. Collaboration has been chosen as the unit of analysis due tothe collaborative nature of innovation. Innovation often produces a sustainable competitiveadvantage for organizations. The key in leveraging organizations' innovative capacity is throughthe development of intellectual capital. Human resource development is a viable method offostering organizational resources such as intellectual capital. Due to economic, political, andorganizational constraints upon traditional human resource development activities, intellectualcapital may be best fostered via non-traditional methods. Organizational reward systems, as inthe case of performance-based tenure and promotion, have been shown to both promote andhinder collaborative activities. A qualitative case study approach has been chosen due tocontextual factors influencing collaboration. Semi-structured interviews, document and archivalanalysis served as the primary means of data collection. Faculty collaboration occurring at alarge Texas university was examined via three main data sources: the college-level strategic plan,network analysis of interdepartmental collaboration, and targeted, semi-structured interviews.Data analysis revealed collaboration at the university often occurs via relationships, networks,and is fostered via resource allocation. Tenure and promotion as well as available resources seem to have a mediating effect on the decisions faculty made relating to research collaborations. Datasupported the theoretical variables derived from the Theory of the Learning Organization.Recommendations for fostering collaboration center upon administering rewards in closeproximity of collaboration behaviors. Further research must be performed to better understandthe outcomes of successful collaboration as well as the different context in which fosteringcollaboration may be beneficial to organizational outcomes.