Competition in UK Higher Education

Applying Porter's diamond model to Geography departments

Bibliographic Data

ID4098591
AuthorsPaul J Curran
Year2001
Volume26
Issue2
Pages223-251
Publication date2001-06-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0307-5079 • E-ISSN: 1470-174X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03075070120052125
OpenAlexW2134978784
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited17

In a linked paper (Curran, 2000) Porter's diamond model of competitive advantage was proposed as a framework with which to evaluate the research performance of departments in UK higher education institutions. This article discusses the application of this model to an initial dataset of thirty-six departmental and institutional variables (later reduced to eight) for sixty-eight departments of geography. Approximately two-thirds of the variability in the results of the 1996 research assessment exercise (RAE) was accounted for using quantitative measures, leaving approximately one-third of the variability accounted for by the judgement of the RAE panel. These quantitative and qualitative measures were used to locate departments of geography along a spectrum of development from factor-driven (similar performance to that of institution as only factor conditions in place) to investment-driven (heavy investment leading to an upgrade of factor conditions, demand conditions and departmental strategy, structure and rivalry) to innovation-driven (four corners of diamond in place leading to continuous innovation/upgrading) and finally wealth-driven (seeking advantage through accumulated wealth leading to gradual decline). The most research successful departments were those in the innovation-driven stage. UK geography was seen to have a large proportion of its departments in the investment-driven stage with several in, or moving into, the innovation-driven stage. This bodes well for the future vitality of the discipline

Business · China · Diamond model · Economic geography · Economic growth · Economics · Higher education · Industrial organization · Judgement · Political science · Regional science · Sociology · Global and Cross-Cultural Management · Higher Education Governance and Development · Hospitality and Tourism Education · Regional Development and Policy · Marketing

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